580 ADOXA. [CLASS VIII. ORDER III. 



1. P. quadrifo'lia, Linn. (Fig. 660.) Common Herb Paris. Leaves 

 ovate, ahout four in a whorl ; calyx of four linear lanceolate segments ; 

 petals four, narrower. 



English Botany, t. 7.— English Flora, vol. ii. p. 241.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 187. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 271. 



Hoots fibrous, with creeping underground stems, somewhat woody. 

 Stem erect, from four to twelve inches high, round, smooth, naked, 

 except at the top, where it is crowned with a whorl of four leaves^ 

 sometimes live, rarely six, ovate or elliptic, with an acute point, the 

 base more or less tapered into a short footstalk, having three nearly 

 equal ribs and slender branched veins, smooth, of a dull green, paler 

 beneath. Flotvers solitary, on a simple angular erect peduncle^ the 

 cali/x of four linear lanceolate spreading segments, of a pale green 

 colour, quite smooth, with three principal ribs and numerous slender 

 lateral ones. Petals four, much narrower, linear, greenish, yellow, 

 shorter than the calyx. Stamens eight, erect, with awl-shaped ^Za- 

 ments, shorter than the petals. Anthers of two linear lateral cells on 

 the sides of the filament, which rises above them in a tapering point. 

 Styles four, awl-shaped, shorter than the stamens. Stigtnas simple. 

 Fruit a purplish black lerry, somewhat globose, obtusely four angled, 

 compressed, four celled, each cell from four to eight seeded, attached 

 in two rows to a central receptacle. 



Habitat. — Shady woods in various parts of England, Scotland, and 

 Ross Island, Killarney, Ireland. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and June. 



The leaves and berries of Paris are possessed of narcotic properties, 

 and have been exhibited, it is said, with some success in the cure of 

 hooping cough ; great caution, however, is necessary in its use, as con- 

 vulsions and death are caused by an over dose : and the strength of 

 the plant is very various, according to the situation of its growth, or 

 the dryness or dampness of the season. The root is spoken of by 

 Linnaeus as possessing emetic properties, but to produce the same 

 requires twice the quantity as is given of Ipecacuanha. 



GENUS XII. ADO'XA.— Linn. Moschatell 



Nat. Ord. Azalia'ce^. Juss. 



Gen. Char. CaZyrc half, inferior, two or three-cleft. Corolla roiRtef 

 with a very short tube, and a four or five parted limb. Stamens 

 eight or ten. Anthers terminal, single celled. Styles four or 

 five, with obtuse stigmas. Fruit a berry, surrounded by the 

 persistent calyx, and crowned by the apex of the styles, four or 

 five celled. — Name from a, particle of negation, and ^o|a, 

 splendour ; from the humble insignificant appearance of this 

 little flower. 



