Paris quadrifolia (herb paris)

Paris quadrifolia has a large quantity of DNA in its cells (with a 2C DNA value of 60 picograms) but scientists at Kew’s Jodrell Laboratory recently discovered that the related species Paris japonica has the largest genome on record, with well over twice this amount, at a staggering 152 picograms.

The native range of Paris quadrifolia comprises the boreal and temperate areas of Europe and extends eastwards to western Asia, western Siberia and the Himalaya.

Illustration of Paris quadrifolia (Image: Prof. Otto Wilhelm Thomé, Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz)

Overview: A perennial woodland herb, 25–40 cm tall, with a rhizome (underground stem).

Leaves: Four (often 3–8; see herbarium specimen below) deep green leaves, broadly obovate, measuring 6.0–10.0 × 2.0–5.5 cm. The leaves are in a single whorl at the top of the stem and are stalkless or with only a short stalk.

Flowers: Four broad green sepals and four narrow yellow-green petals, topped with a crown of 8 (sometimes up to 12) golden-yellow stamens. The ovary has four chambers and four protruding styles.

Fruits: Black, spherical berry, approximately 13 mm in diameter, containing on average 34 seeds.

Seeds: Dark brown, egg-shaped, 2.5×1.5 mm.

Paris quadrifolia is in decline in Europe due to a reduction in broadleaved woodland, its primary habitat. Native woodland is frequently cleared to make way for conifer plantations and construction of new roads and buildings, and although this is often mitigated by the planting of new woodlands, herb paris has limited dispersal abilities and is slow to colonise new areas. The conservation of ancient broadleaved woodland is therefore key to preventing further decline of the species.

Paris quadrifolia is cultivated as an ornamental and makes an attractive addition to a woodland garden. Its medicinal use is almost exclusively confined to homeopathy.

The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life worldwide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.

Two collections of Paris quadrifolia seeds are held in Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank based at Wakehurst in West Sussex.

See Kew’s Seed Information Database for further information on Paris quadrifolia seeds.

Herb paris requires a neutral or only slightly acidic soil that is deep, moist, well drained and humus-rich. It will do best in a partly shaded position where the soil stays moist throughout the year.

It spreads vegetatively by rhizomes, which can be divided to propagate the plant. Alternatively, seed can be collected and sown in containers immediately after harvesting.

Specimen of Paris quadrifolia from Kew’s Herbarium (note variable number of leaves and floral parts).

Herb paris can be seen growing in Kew’s Woodland Garden (at the southern end of the Order Beds).

Dried and alcohol-preserved specimens of Paris quadrifolia are held in Kew’s Herbarium, where they are available to researchers by appointment.

Further details, including images, are available online in Kew’s Herbarium Catalogue.

Search Kew’s science databases for more information on Paris quadrifolia

Find out more about the related Paris japonica and its giant genome

eMonocot - an online resource for monocot plants

Visit the BSBI (Botanical Society of the British Isles) website for a map showing the distribution of Paris quadrifolia across Great Britain and Ireland from the 1930’s to the present day