Stems simple or branched, nodes more than 2. Leaves cauline. Inflorescences opposite leaves and/or terminal, racemes, lax, spikelike, not subtended by petaloid bracts. Flowers 175-350, not coalescent; stamens (3-) 6 (-8), hypogynous or epigynous; pistil 1, (3-) 4-5 (-7) -carpellate, connate only at base; placentation marginal; ovules 2 per placenta (only 1 developing into seed). Fruits schizocarps; mericarps dry, indehiscent. Seed 1 per mericarp. x = 11.

Distribution

e North America, e Asia

Discussion

Species 2 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Baldwin, J. T. and B. M. Speese. 1949. Cytogeography of Saururus cernuus. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 76: 213-216.

Hall, T. F. 1940. The biology of Saururus cernuus L. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 24: 253-260.

Holm, T. 1926. Saururus cernuus L. A morphological study. Amer. J. Sci., ser. 5, 12: 162-168.

Johnson, D. S. 1900. On the development of Saururus cernuus L. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 27: 365-372.

Tucker, S. C. 1975. Floral development in Saururus cernuus (Saururaceae). 1. Floral initiation and stamen development. Amer. J. Bot. 62: 993-1007.

Tucker, S. C. 1976. Floral development in Saururus cernuus (Saururaceae). 2. Carpel initiation and floral vasculature. Amer. J. Bot. 63: 289-301.

Tucker, S. C. 1979. Ontogeny of the inflorescence of Saururus cernuus (Saururaceae). Amer. J. Bot. 66: 227-236.

Lower Taxa

Saururus cernuus