Paris quadrifolia Herb-paris

A rhizomatous, shade tolerant perennial which grows in the herb layer of calcareous, deciduous woodlands, particularly Ash woodlands, with species like Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) and Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa). With its four (or five), large, pointed-oval leaves at the top of an otherwise leafless stem and a single flower bearing long, lanceolate, yellow-green petals and very narrow sepals, it is very distinctive but nevertheless difficult to spot on the woodland floor when it is growing in the midst of large swards of Dog's Mercury and other woodland herbs. It produces a single, black berry but seedling recruitment is poor and colonisation of new sites is very rare. Consequently, where it is found, it is a very good indicator of Ancient Woodland. Whereas it is widespread and locally common in parts of England it is absent from much of Wales and only locally common in south Wales from Carmarthenshire and Gower eastwards. In West Glamorgan it is only found in the Gower Ash Woodlands.

Native