Paris quadrifolia
Ecology
A rhizomatous, perennial herb of moist, calcareous, usually ancient, woodland, and occasionally found in grikes on open limestone pavement. It flowers and fruits most freely in the open stages of the coppice cycle, but persists in deep shade, and is well adapted to such conditions in managed woodland. Generally lowland, but reaching 360 m at Great Asby Scar (Westmorland) and Garrigill (Cumberland).
Status
Trends
Many sites for P. quadrifolia were lost in N. England and central Scotland before 1930, and since then there has been some decline in S.E. England through the destruction and coniferisation of woodland. It may spread into secondary woods which are adjacent to primary woodland.
World Distribution
Eurosiberian Boreo-temperate element.
Broad Habitats
Light (Ellenberg): 3
Moisture (Ellenberg): 6
Reaction (Ellenberg): 7
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 6
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.2
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 15.3
Annual Precipitation (mm): 877
Height (cm): 40
Perennation - primary
Life Form - primary
Woodiness
Clonality - primary
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 714
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 0
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 0
Atlas Change Index: -0.68
JNCC Designations
External Species Accounts
Atlas text references
Atlas (317b) .
1986. Atlas of north European vascular plants north of the Tropic of Cancer. 3 vols. .
1996. Flora Britannica. .
1965. Vergleichende Chorologie der zentraleuropäischen Flora. Volume 1. 2 vols.