| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Basal Angiosperm-Dicots
Order: Piperales
Family: Saururaceae
Family Common Name: Lizard Tail Family
Genera: Saururus |
Defining Features: The family
is very similar to the Piperaceae.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Flowers are naked (perianth lacking) and actinomorphic. Flowers
are small and borne on dense terminal racemes or spikes. Flowers sometimes
subtended by petal-like bracts. Ovaries are inferior or superior. Fruit
and Seed Features: Dicotyledon. Fruit a capsule or cluster of achenes.
Vegetative Features: Habit as a rhizomatous or stoloniferous herbs. Leaves
fleshy, alternate with entire margins. Leaves often have broad base and
palmate venations. Stipule is united to petiole.
Distribution: On the east
and west coast of North America and in Asia (north temperate).
Economic Use: As garden ornamentals
and medicinally.
Number of Genera Globally: 4
Number of Species Globally: 6
