Saururus chinensis

Saururus chinensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Saururaceae.^[1][2] It is sometimes referred to by the common name Asian lizard's tail,^[3]

Asian lizard's tail
S. chinensis, foliage and inflorescences
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Piperales
Family:	Saururaceae
Genus:	Saururus
Species:	S. chinensis
Binomial name
Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill.
Synonyms[1]
Homotypic Synonyms Saururopsis chinensis (Lour.) Turcz. Saururus loureiroi Decne. Spathium chinense Lour. Heterotypic Synonyms Saururus cernuus Thunb. Saururus cumingii C.DC.

Description

It is an herb that grows in low, damp places to more than 1 meter high. Its leaves are green, papery, ribbed, densely glandular, and ovate to ovate-lanceolate, and (4-)10-20 × (2-)5-10 cm in size. Each flower spike resembles a lizard's tail.

Distribution

It is native to North-Central, South-Central and Southeast China, Hainan, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Qinghai, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and Vietnam.^[1]

Traditional medical uses

Saururus chinensis been used to treat inflammation^[4] in diverse conditions such as edema, gonorrhea, and asthma.^[5][6]