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P A R I S quadrifolia.
Herb Paris.
O C T A N D R I A Tetragynia.
G en. Char. Cal. four-leaved. Petals 4, tapering.
Berry four-celled.
S pec. Char, none, as we know but this fpecies of
the genus.
S yn. Paris quadrifolia. Linn. Sp. P I. 526. H u d f.F l.
An. 172. With. Bot. A rr. 416. Relb, Cantab. 163.
Herba Paris. R a il Syn. 264.
T H I S plant is a native of lhady woods in molt parts of England,
though very rare in fome counties, and not very common
in any. Its appearance is Angular, and not beautiful. The
number four remarkably prevails in its compofition, and it is generally
conftant to that number, though fometimes found with
three leaves and fometimes with five. The Hem is always Ample-
The origin of its name is uncertain. Some etymologifts derive
it from par, a pair, on account of the leaves of this plant
growing in pairs*: but this would be more applicable to any
plant with two oppofite leaves, for the leaves of Paris are verti-
cillated. Linnseus therefore more wifely reckons it among the
Latin generic names of unknown derivation.
The fame author fays, in Flora Lapponica, its roots may ferve
inftead of ipecacuanha as an emetic, but muft be given in twice
the quantity. The berry is narcotic, and the whole plant has
always been efteemed poifonous.
* Ambrofmi Phytologia, 506.