Practical
Plants

Paris quadrifolia

Herb Paris

a perennial member of the Paris genus in the family Trilliaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Paris
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Midges, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

The plant is poisonous in large doses[12][1][5][11]. This refers to the fruit[6].

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.

The entire plant, harvested just as it is coming into flower, is antirheumatic and detergent[1][10][4]. In large doses the herb is narcotic, producing nausea, vomiting, vertigo etc[8]. It should be used with great caution, overdoses have proved fatal to children[8]. In small doses it is of benefit in the treatment of bronchitis, spasmodic coughs, rheumatism, colic etc[8]. The plant is also used in the treatment of headaches and neuralgia[10][4]. The seeds and the berries have something of the nature of opium, they have been used as an aphrodisiac[8]. A tincture of the fresh plant is useful as an antidote to poisoning by mercurial sublimate and arsenic[8]. A cooling ointment made from the seeds and juice of the leaves is applied externally to wounds, tumours and inflammations[8]. The juice of the berries is used to treat eye inflammations[8]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[8].

Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Detergent
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Material uses

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

A red dye is obtained from the berries[1]. A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves[2].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, Macedonia, Siberia and the Caucasus
Habitat
Damp woods on calcareous soils[1][3].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in late summer in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as soon as it is received. The seed is very slow to germinate. It produces a primary root about 7 months after sowing, this pulls the seed deeper into the soil. Leaves are produced about 4 months later[2]. Sow the seed thinly so that it does not need to be thinned and grow the young plants on undisturbed in a shady part of the greenhouse for their first two years of growth. Give an occasional liquid feed in the growing season to ensure the plants do not become nutrient deficient. At the end of the second year's growth prick out the young plants into individual pots and grow them on for another year or two in a shady part of the greenhouse before planting them out in the spring. Division.

Cultivation

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

Easily grown in a humus-rich soil in woodland conditions[6]. Prefers a light sandy loam[9][13]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[6]. The presence of this plant in a truly wild state in Britain is an indicator of ancient woodland[6]. Plants are very slow to flower from seed[2]. The flowers are very long-lived[6]. The flowers emit a strong unpleasant smell rather like decaying meat[7].

References

  1. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 9. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  4. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

  5. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩

  8. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  9. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  11. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  12. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩

  13. Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1

    ↩

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