Practical
Plants

Saururus cernuus

Swamp Lily

a perennial member of the Saururus genus in the family Saururaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.5 m
Spread
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Sedative[10]. An infusion of the roots has been used as a wash in the treatment of rheumatism[7]. The root is roasted then mashed and made into a poultice to treat sore breasts[4][5][7]. A boiled extract of the roots is used as a poultice to heal flesh wounds[6]. The dried leaves can be made into a tea and drunk for the treatment of back and breast pains[4], it is also used in treating stomach ailments[5].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Rhode Island to Florida, west to Texas and Minnesota.
Habitat
Swamps and shallow water[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in early autumn. Sow stored seed in late winter or early spring. Keep the pots moist by standing them in shallow water[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[1][3]. The plants spread freely and division is possible at almost any time in the growing season. Divisions taken in mid to late summer should be overwintered in pots in a cold frame and then be planted out in late spring. Regular division maintains the vigour of the plant[3].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This is a plant for a boggy area of the garden, it is able to withstand temporary flooding[9]. It prefers a loamy soil[1] growing well in pond margins though it spreads vigorously[9]. It can succeed in damp sites in the woodland as well as in the bog garden[3]. Prefers a position in full sun but tolerates some shade[2]. Plants are fairly cold tolerant, but are best given a protective mulch in the winter[9]. The flowers are fragrant[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  5. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  6. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  7. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  8. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  9. Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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