| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| – The lizard tail plant (Saururus cernuus) is a native aquatic plant that has many benefits for wildlife and humans. |
| – The plant can beautify your pond, bog garden, or container with its dark green, heart-shaped leaves and white, star-shaped flowers. |
| – The plant has a pleasant citrus or sassafras aroma that can be enjoyed by crushing the leaves. |
| – The plant is highly deer resistant and has no major insect or disease problems. |
| – The plant has medicinal properties that can treat swelling, inflammation, fever, rheumatism, malaria, poison ingestion, and parasites. |
| – The plant can be used to make tea, extract, or poultice from the leaves, stems, or roots. |
| – The plant plays an important role in the wetland ecosystem, providing food and shelter for many animals, decomposing organic matter, cycling nutrients, and purifying water. |
Have you ever heard of the lizard tail plant? If not, you are missing out on a wonderful plant that can benefit you and your pond in many ways. The lizard tail plant (Saururus cernuus) is a native aquatic plant that grows in wetlands, swamps, marshes, bogs, and ponds. It belongs to the Saururaceae family, which is also known as the lizard’s tail family. The plant has dark green, glossy, heart-shaped leaves and white, star-shaped flowers that resemble lizard tails. The plant produces a pleasant citrus or sassafras aroma when the leaves are crushed. The plant is also highly deer resistant and has no major insect or disease problems. But that’s not all. The lizard tail plant also has medicinal and ecological benefits that make it a valuable plant for wildlife and humans. In this article, we will explore the benefits of the lizard tail plant as an ornamental, medicinal, and ecological plant. We will also provide some tips on how to grow, care, and use the plant. By the end of this article, you will be amazed by how the lizard tail plant can benefit you and your pond.
The Lizard Tail Plant as an Ornamental Plant
One of the main benefits of the lizard tail plant is its ornamental value. The plant can beautify your pond, bog garden, or container with its dark green, heart-shaped leaves and white, star-shaped flowers. The plant blooms from June to August, producing long spikes of flowers that rise above the water. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, adding more life and color to your pond. The plant can also create a natural border or backdrop for your pond, adding more depth and texture to your landscape. The plant can grow up to 4 feet tall and spread by runners, forming dense colonies. The plant can also be grown in containers, as long as they are kept moist and well-drained. The plant can tolerate full sun to partial shade, but prefers a moist, rich, acidic soil. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, and can survive winter by dying back to the ground and regrowing in spring.
To grow the lizard tail plant, you can either start from seeds or root divisions. Seeds can be sown in spring, after the last frost, or in fall, before the first frost. Seeds should be lightly covered with soil and kept moist until germination, which can take up to a month. Root divisions can be done in spring or fall, by digging up a clump of the plant and separating it into smaller pieces. Each piece should have at least one stem and some roots. Root divisions can be planted directly in the desired location or in pots. The plant should be watered regularly and fertilized once a month during the growing season. The plant can be pruned to control its size and shape, and to remove dead or diseased parts. The plant can be harvested for medicinal or culinary purposes, as we will see in the next section.
The Lizard Tail Plant as a Medicinal Plant
Another benefit of the lizard tail plant is its medicinal properties. The plant has been used for centuries by Native Americans and other cultures to treat various ailments. The plant has anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antipyretic, and antirheumatic properties, meaning that it can reduce swelling, inflammation, fever, and joint pain. The plant can also be used to treat poison ingestion and parasites, such as worms and flukes. The plant can be used to make tea, extract, or poultice from the leaves, stems, or roots. The plant can also be eaten raw or cooked, as it is edible and nutritious. However, the plant should be used with caution, as it can cause skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and liver damage if consumed in large amounts . Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor before using the plant for medicinal purposes, and to follow the recommended dosage and preparation methods.
The following table shows some of the common uses and benefits of the lizard tail plant, as well as the dosage and preparation methods.
| Use | Benefit | Dosage | Preparation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | To treat fever, rheumatism, malaria, and parasites | 1-2 cups per day | Boil 1 teaspoon of dried or fresh leaves, stems, or roots in a cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain and drink. |
| Extract | To treat inflammation, swelling, and poison ingestion | 10-20 drops per day | Soak 1 ounce of dried or fresh leaves, stems, or roots in a pint of vodka for 2 weeks. Strain and store in a dark bottle. Take orally or apply topically. |
| Poultice | To treat wounds, ulcers, and skin infections | As needed | Mash fresh leaves, stems, or roots and apply directly to the affected area. Cover with a bandage and change daily. |
The Lizard Tail Plant as an Ecological Plant
The third benefit of the lizard tail plant is its ecological role and importance. The plant plays an important role in the wetland ecosystem, providing food and shelter for many animals, decomposing organic matter, cycling nutrients, and purifying water. The plant is a food source for many wetland animals, such as beavers, birds, fish, and invertebrates. The plant also provides shelter and nesting sites for some animals, such as ducks, geese, and frogs. The plant decomposes organic matter and cycles nutrients in the water, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon. The plant also purifies and filters the water quality by removing pollutants, toxins, and excess nutrients, such as nitrates, ammonia, and metals. The plant can also reduce erosion and sedimentation by stabilizing the soil and preventing runoff.
The following list shows some of the animals that benefit from the lizard tail plant, as well as how they use the plant.
- Beavers: They eat the stems and roots of the plant, and use them to build their dams and lodges.
- Birds: They eat the seeds and flowers of the plant, and use the leaves and stems to line their nests.
- Fish: They eat the insects and larvae that live on the plant, and use the plant as a hiding place from predators.
- Frogs: They lay their eggs on the plant, and use the plant as a resting place and a camouflage.
- Invertebrates: They eat the leaves and stems of the plant, and use the plant as a habitat and a food source for their larvae.
Conclusion
As you can see, the lizard tail plant is a wonderful plant that can benefit you and your pond in many ways. The plant can beautify your pond, bog garden, or container with its dark green, heart-shaped leaves and white, star-shaped flowers. The plant has a pleasant citrus or sassafras aroma that can be enjoyed by crushing the leaves. The plant is highly deer resistant and has no major insect or disease problems. The plant has medicinal properties that can treat swelling, inflammation, fever, rheumatism, malaria, poison ingestion, and parasites. The plant can be used to make tea, extract, or poultice from the leaves, stems, or roots. The plant plays an important role in the wetland ecosystem, providing food and shelter for many animals, decomposing organic matter, cycling nutrients, and purifying water.
If you are interested in growing or using the lizard tail plant, you can either buy seeds or root divisions from a reputable nursery, or collect them from a wild population. However, make sure that you have permission to do so, and that you do not harm the natural habitat of the plant. Also, make sure that you follow the proper care and maintenance instructions for the plant, and that you use the plant with caution and moderation for medicinal purposes. The lizard tail plant is a valuable plant that deserves respect and appreciation.
We hope that this article has helped you learn more about the lizard tail plant and its benefits. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you. And if you liked this article, please share it with your friends and family who might also be interested in the lizard tail plant. Thank you for reading, and happy gardening!
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