Paris polyphylla

Paris polyphylla
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Melanthiaceae
Genus:	Paris
Species:	P. polyphylla
Binomial name
Paris polyphylla Sm.
Synonyms
Synonymy Daiswa polyphylla (Sm.) Raf. Paris daiswus Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Paris debeauxii H.Lév. Paris biondii Pamp. Paris taitungensis S.S.Ying Paris kwantungensis R.H.Miao Paris chinensis Franch., syn of var. chinensis Daiswa chinensis (Franch.) Takht., syn of var. chinensis Paris formosana Hayata, syn of var. chinensis Paris brachysepala Pamp., syn of var. chinensis Paris bockiana Diels, syn of var. stenophylla Paris lancifolia Hayata, syn of var. stenophylla Paris hamifer H.Lév., syn of var. stenophylla Paris arisanensis Hayata, syn of var. stenophylla Daiswa bockiana (Diels) Takht., syn of var. stenophylla Daiswa lancifolia (Hayata) Takht., syn of var. stenophylla Paris yunnanensis Franch., syn of var. yunnanensis Daiswa yunnanensis (Franch.) Takht., syn of var. yunnanensis Paris christii H.Lév., syn of var. yunnanensis Paris franchetiana H.Lév., syn of var. yunnanensis Paris mercieri H.Lév., syn of var. yunnanensis Paris cavaleriei H.Lév. & Vaniot, syn of var. yunnanensis Paris gigas H.Lév. & Vaniot, syn of var. yunnanensis Paris aprica H.Lév., syn of var. yunnanensis Paris pinfaensis H.Lév., syn of var. yunnanensis Paris atrata H.Lév., syn of var. yunnanensis Daiswa birmanica Takht., syn of var. yunnanensis Paris birmanica (Takht.) H.Li & Noltie, syn of var. yunnanensis

Paris polyphylla is an Asian species of plants native to China, the Indian Subcontinent, and Indochina. It produces spider-like flowers that throw out long, thread-like, yellowish green petals throughout most of the warm summer months and into the autumn. In the fall, the flowers are followed by small, scarlet berries. It is a perennial, which slowly spreads, is fully hardy in Britain, and survives in leafy, moist soil in either complete or partial shade.

This flowering plant usually grows up to 90 cm (3 ft) high and spreads out about 30 cm (1 ft) wide. Its leaves grow in a single whorl below a flower growing in two whorls.

It is used as an ornamental plant for woodland gardens or for planting under deciduous trees.

The generic name Paris is derived from the word pars, or equal, which refers to the symmetry of the plant and the multiples of four in which its foliage, flowers, and fruits grow. The specific epithet, polyphylla, refers to the plants' many broad leaves: "many (poly) leaves (phylla)". It is also referred to as Ch'i Yeh I Chih Hua in China, meaning "seven-leaves-one-flower". Its Nepali name is Satuwa, and it is referred to as the "Love Apple" in English.

The genus Paris has in the past been placed in a number of different families, including a broadly defined Liliaceae and the former family Trilliaceae. In the APG III system, it is placed in the family Melanthiaceae, where it is related to the genus Trillium.

As of May 2012^[update] the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) recognizes several varieties:

The Flora of China recognizes five additional varieties, three of which are placed in different species by the WCSP:

Paris polyphylla prefers to grow in forests, bamboo forests, thickets, grassy or rocky slopes and stream sides. It likes moist, damp, and shady places (such as under deciduous trees). It is said to grow at altitudes up to 3300 meters and thrives well in places with moist and humus rich soil under canopy of forest in full shade to partial shade.

Soil nutrients like organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus were found in higher levels in areas where the plant was absent. However, the levels of phosphorus tended to be found in higher levels in areas were the plant grew.

...
Wikipedia