456 THE LILY FAMILY. | [ Paris. 
A genus containing, besides the European species, only two or three 
Asiatic ones. 
1. P. quadrifolia, Linn. (fig. 1027). Common Paris, Herb-Paris.— 
Stem 9 inches to a foot high, with a whorl of 4 broadly-ovate or obovate 
leaves, 2 to 3 or 4: inches long. Peduncle rising to 1 or 2 inches above the 
leaves. Perianth of a yellowish-green colour; the 4 outer segments narrow. — 
lanceolate, about an inch long; the 4 inner ones linear and rather more 
yellow. Anthers linear, on slender filaments. Berry of a bluish-black 
colour. Sometimes, but rarely, there is a fifth leaf, with the addition of a- 
fifth to each of the parts of the flower. : 
In woods and shady places, dispersed over Europe and temperate Asia, 
from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, but not generally very com- 
mon. Scattered over several parts of Britain, but local and_not found in 
Treland. £1. spring or early summer. 
II. POLYGONATUM. SOLOMON-SEAL. 
Stems annual, erect and leafy, with a thick horizontal rootstock. Leaves 
parallel-veined. Flowers axillary, drooping. Perianth tubular, shortly 
6-cleft. Stamens 6, inserted on the perianth. Ovary 3-celled, with 
2 ovules in each cell. Style slender, with an entire stigma. Fruit a small 
berry. 
A omall genus, spread over the northern hemisphere without the tropics, 
easily known by its foliage and inflorescence. 
Leaves whorled, narrow ° ; : ° ° ‘ . - Ll. P. verticillatum, 
Leaves alternate. 
Flowers usually several in each axil. Filaments hairy . 2. P. multifiorum, 
Flowers 1 or rarely 2 in each axil, Filaments glabrous . 3. 2. officinale. 
1, P. verticillatum, All. (fig. 1028). Whorled Solomon-seal._—Stem 
about 2 feet high. Leaves numerous, in whorls of 3, 4, or 5, narrow- 
lanceolate, 2 to 3 inches long, of a bright green. Flowers usually several 
in each axil, on short branching peduncles or rarely solitary. Perianth 
about 4 lines long, white, with greenish tips. Berries red. 
In woods and shady places, in the mountain districts of Europe and 
temperate Asia, extending far into Scandinavia. Very rare in Britain, being 
only known from near Bellingham in Northumberland, and in Forfarshire 
and Perthshire, on the banks of streams flowing from the Grampians into 
the Tay. Fl. June. 
2. P. multifiorum, All. (fig. 1029). Common Solomon-seal.—Stems 
near 2 feet high, erect or rather inclining to one side. Leaves alternate, 
ovate or oblong, 38 or 4 inches long, all usually turning to one side. Flowers 
2 to 7 or 8 together, on short branching peduncles, usually turned to the 
lower side of the stem away from the leaves. Perianth 7 or 8 lines long, 
white, with greenish tips. Filaments and style hairy, all included within 
the perianth. Berries of a dark blue, or red according to Godron. 
In woods and shady places, almost all over Europe and Russian Asia, 
except the extreme north. Occurs in several parts of England, not indi. 
genous in Scotland or Ireland. Fl. spring or early summer. 
3. P. officinale, All. (fig. 1030). Angular Solomon-seal.—Very near 
P. multiflorum, but of smaller stature, seldom exceeding a foot in height, 
