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[-JKP-]

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Good example of one of the species of Paris with an extra whorl of leaves at the top just under the fruit, Linda. Also note that some species have a "snout" on top of the fruit.


As I mentioned previously, the eastern and far eastern versions of Paris have more leaves and most of them have a second whorl of leaves under the "berry" (as in Paris polyphilla) instead of a skinny calyx (as shown in the VMS drawing).

I mentioned Paris japonica upthread because it is one of the few eastern varieties of Paris with 7 or 8 leaves that doesn't have an extra whorl of leaves just under the fruiting body. It's a significant detail that helps botanists distinguish one species from another (in addition to the number of leaves and the length of the "whiskers" that grow upwards around the fruiting body on some species (not this one)).


Paris japonica, courtesy of Wikipedia. Far eastern plant.


Paris originated in the east. Paris polyphylla is from southeast Asia (south China). There are many varieties all across Mongolia, Japan, China, Viet Nam and India. The farther west you go, the fewer multi-leaved varieties one sees, and the western variety (Paris quadrifolia) is distinctive for its four leaves and the skinny calyx*.


I mentioned earlier that there is also a [small] possibility that the VMS plant is a species of Paris that has died out due to deforestation. I don't think this is a likely scenario (it would probably have shown up in old herbals if it existed) but extinction has occurred to some plants included in old manuscripts (e.g., Silphium).


* P.S., I'm not 100 sure if it's a calyx or unusually skinny leaf whorl under the "berry" on Paris quadrifolia, I'm using the term calyx for convenience. Sometimes you need a microscope to tell the difference.