Paris quadrifolia

Taxobox
name = "Paris quadrifolia"

---

image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Paris quadrifolia"growing near Loggerheads, North Wales
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Liliales
familia = Melanthiaceae
genus = "Paris"
species = "P. quadrifolia"
binomial = "Paris quadrifolia"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus

"Paris quadrifolia" (Herb Paris, True-lover's Knot) is a species of the genus "Paris" in the family Melanthiaceae although authorities formerly regarded it as part of the Liliaceae family. It is related to "Trillium" with which it can be confused. "Trillium" however is generally 3-merous (3 leaves per whorl, 3 petals etc.) whereas "Paris" is 4-merous.

Characteristics

In the UK it has the familiar name of Herb Paris.

It has solitary flowers with four or more very narrow greenish filiform (threadlike) petals and green petaloid sepals. The flower is borne above a single whorl of four or more stem leaves. It prefers calcareous soils and lives in damp and shady places especially old established woods and stream sides. It occurs locally in temperate and cool areas throughout Europe and Asia but is absent in the wild from the Americas, Africa and the southern hemisphere. In Britain it is more frequently found in the east of the country but it is uncommon throughout its range. Each plant only produces one, blueberry-like fruit, which is poisonous.

Herb Paris gallery

External links

* [http://hologuides.com/plants/Herb_Paris/ HoloGuides - photos]