Herb Paris

Paris quadrifolia

Up to 40 cm tall. A distinctive and upright perennial with a creeping rootstock. Upright stems carry a single whorl of unstalked oval to diamond-shaped leaves that are 5-16 cm long and conspicuously veined. Flower is solitary, borne on a long stalk and comprises of four to six green sepals and four or more narrow petals topped by a purple ovary and yellow stamens.

What habitats does it normally live in?

Damp woods, calcareous soils

What's its life cycle or behaviour pattern?

Flowers May-June

What is its current UK distribution?

Widespread across most of Europe except the Mediterranean.

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