Herb Paris
Paris polyphylla

Family: Melanthiaceae

What it is like

A perennial plant which grows up to 1 m tall. It spreads to 30 cm across. It has rhizomes or underground stems which are 1-2.5 cm thick. There are 5-10 leaves. The leaf stalk is 1-6 cm long. The leaf blade is usually oblong to sword shaped and 6-15 cm long by 0.5-5 cm wide. The base is rounded or wedge shaped. The flower stalk is 5-14 cm long. (There can be more leaves and longer leaf blades and flower stalks.) The flowers are yellowish-green. The fruit is a capsule which is round. The seeds are in a red soft aril or seed layer. Several varieties of this plant have been described.

The plant is poisonous. It has medicinal uses. There are about 24 Paris species. Also put in the family Trilliaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in broadleaved woodlands up to 3,000 metres in the Himalayas. It grows in moist humus rich soil. It can grow in sunlight of partial shade. In China it grows in forests between 100-3500 m altitude in many provinces. It suits hardiness zones 6-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seed are eaten. The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable. They are also used for soup. The flowers and fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, caution, leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seed are slow to germinate. It takes about 12 months to produce leaves. Plants can also be grown by division.

Plants are slow to flower from seed. Flowers last 3 months.

Its other names

Local names

Ding-ding, Nyomrang takeng, Qi ye yi zhi hua, Satuwa, Tsao Hsiu

Synonyms

Daiswa polyphylla (Sm.) Raf.;