Woodblock print of stylized plants growing and flowering together. The Saururus is instantly recognizable by the spikes subtended by white-variegated leaves. The hypericum flowers are typical for the genus: yellow with a mass of stamens.

My last Saururaceae (for now):
I love seeing interesting plants represented in art. “[Saururus chinensis and Hypericum patulum]” (1930) is a woodblock print in the shin-hanga style by Asano Takeji of Japan. #Hypericaceae #Saururaceae #botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo of an herbaceous plant with cordate leaves that are variegated with cream and pink. The erect spikes each have 4 petaloid bracts at their bases. The spikes are densely covered with tiny flowers.

Close-up photo of a single spike. The 4 basal bracts are present, but the spike also has enlarged bracts subtending the flowers. Bract size decreases toward the tip of the spike.

Houttuynia cordata (the only species in the genus) is cultivated as an ornamental plant, especially the cultivar ‘Chameleon’ with its pink-and-cream variegated leaves. Another cultivar (📷: knag CCBY4) has enlarged bracts on the spike (not just below it). #Saururaceae #botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo of an herbaceous plant with cordate leaves. The erect spikes each have 4 petaloid bracts at their bases. The spikes are densely covered with tiny flowers.

The pseudanthium (an inflorescence that functions like a flower) is very obvious in Houttuynia cordata, the only species in the genus. This plant has leaves that smell of fish (to my nose). They are used as both medicinal & culinary herbs in SE Asia. #Saururaceae #botany 🌾🧪🌱

Close-up photo of an inflorescence comprised of four basal, showy bracts and an upright spike densely covered in flowers. Each flower is subtended by a white bract. The flowers do not have a showy perianth.

In Anemopsis californica (the only sp in the genus) we see showy bracts at the base of the spike. There are also smaller, white bracts subtending each flower. Botanists call this a pseudanthium, an inflorescence that functions like a flower. The bracts are like petals. #Saururaceae #botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo of an herbaceous plant with cordate leaves with prominent immersed venation. A single, short spike of flowers grows erect. The spike bears white flowers with exserted stamens.

Gymnotheca chinensis (📷: avocat ccbync4) is a creeping, rhizomatous herb with stamens longer than styles. Note the unadorned spike. The other species, G. involucrata, has a few white bracts at the base of its inflorescence. #Saururaceae #botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo (aprilsee ccbync4) of a patch of Sarurus cernuus in situ. There are many erect spikes with hanging tips. In the background is a stand of pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

The two species of Saururus are examples of the classic E. North America—E. Asia disjunction. Dozens of genera (& families) have this distribution pattern, left over from when the climate across the N. Hemisphere was warmer & plants were more widely distributed. #Saururaceae #botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo of an herbaceous plant with ovate, alternate leaves. On the leaves subtending spikes, the bases of the blades are pure white.

Saururus chinensis (📷: narido CCYBNC4) has slightly shower inflorescences because subtending leaves are blotched with white. In future posts, we’ll see this form of showiness taken to the extreme in other genera. Rhizomes & flowers are used medicinally in China. #Saururaceae #botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo of an herbaceous plant with ovate, alternate leaves. A single spike of flowers grows erect, but the distal third of the spike is bent over and hangs limply. The spike is covered with white flowers with exserted stamens.

Close-up photo of the flowers on the spike. The spike axis and floral bracts are pubescent. The flowers lack perianths but have long stamens and short, superior gynoecia.

Saururaceae are in the Piperales. Can you see the ordinal resemblance? The leaves & spicate inflorescence of Saururus cernuus look like a Piper. The flowers (📷: cfa CCBYNC4) lack perianths. They are just stamens & pistils with superior ovaries. #Saururaceae #botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo of an herbaceous plant with ovate, alternate leaves. A single spike of flowers grows erect, but the distal third of the spike is bent over and hangs limply. The spike is covered with white flowers with exserted stamens.

Saururaceae are a small family of 4 genera: Anemopsis (1 sp; w. North Amer.). Houttuynia (1 sp.; e. Asia), Gymnotheca (2 spp; SE Asia) & Saururus (2 spp; e. & s. North Amer. & e. Asia). Saururus means “lizard tail.” Can you see it in S. cernuus from N. Amer.? #Saururaceae #botany 🌾🧪🌱