Description
Despite the similarity of their names Paris tetraphylla is not the same as Paris quadrifolia, nor does it always have 4 leaves either!
Slender, creeping rhizomes make a 15-25 cm stem topped by 4-7 leaves. The flower is held on a wiry stem above and is made up of 4-6 reflexing, lizard green sepals. Above sits a whorl of 6-10 sideways-facing, pale yellow anthers on green filaments. An orange style, divided into 3 or 4 forms an umbrella over the whole. Intricately structured and with a calm, quiet beauty, though in miniature, this is one for the appreciative gardener as it is neither conspicuous nor showy. The flowers are followed by a typical, black-purple (poisonous) Paris berry in late summer.
In Japan it has a northerly distribution being found in mountain woods of N. Honshu (the big island) and adjacent Hokkaido (the smaller island to its north). Ours are nursery raised, but traceable to Aomori Prefecture in northern Honshu.
In cultivation this enjoys a fertile, leaf- or humus-rich soil in part shade. Fully hardy this will make nice colonies in time. Like many Paris it resents disturbances and can sulk after transplanting.
