Saururaceae F.Voigt

Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Morphology General Habit

Herbs, aquatic or in marshy habitats, perennial, rhizomatous, aromatic

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, alternate, basal, venation palmate; stipules fused to the petiole

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, whitish, small; perianth absent; stamens 6-8, anthers dithecal, longitudinally dehiscent, basifixed, introrse; gynoecium composed of 3-5 carpels, these connate only at the base (Saururus) or united into a 1-locular, inferior ovary sunken in the axis of the inflorescence (Anemopsis), styles 3-5 each with 1 stigma, placentation axile or parietal, ovules 1-10 per locule Inflorescences terminal or leaf-opposed spikes or racemes with a basal involucre of several white bracts (Anemopsis)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits composed of 3-4 indehiscent, more or less fleshy carpels, each carpel 1-seeded (Saururus) or several-seeded capsules (Anemopsis)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds few to many, small.

Note

Notes on delimitation: The Saururaceae are placed in the order Piperales, close to the Piperaceae (Cronquist 1981; Stevens, 2008; APG III, 2009; Takhtajan 2009).

Diagnostic

Key to genera of Neotropical Sauraceae 1.  Inflorescence with a basal involucre of white bracts; gynoecium syncarpous; fruit a capsule —. Anemopsis 1.  Inflorescence without a basal involucre of bracts; gynoecium almost apocarpous, the carpels being connate only at the base; fruit fleshy —. Saururus Distinguishing characters (always present): Aquatic, aromatic herbs. Leaves alternate, basal, rather fleshy; stipules small and fused to the petioles. Inflorescences racemes or spikes, and flowers without perianth. Key differences from similar families: Differences from Piperaceae: 1.  Aquatic or marshy herbs; leaves basal, bracts non-peltate; stamens 6-8 .. Saururaceae 1.  Non-aquatic shrubs, trees, or herbs; leaves evenly spread over the whole stem; bracts peltate; stamens 2-6 .. Piperaceae.

Distribution

The two genera are native in the Neotropics. Saururuscernuus is used as an ornamental in aquaria and ponds. Pollinated by insects, mainly syrphids. This primarily North Temperate family comprises five genera and six species in Asia and North America, extending to the Neotropics with two genera and two species, from tropical Florida to Mexico, in marshes, bogs, and other moist places up to an elevation of 1,900 m. Anemopsis Hook. & Arn. (1 sp., A. californica (Nutt.) Hook. & Arn.)  southern USA to Queretaro in Mexico. Saururus L. (1 sp., S. cernuus L.)  Canada to Texas and Florida.