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Herb Paris

 

 

This time we present a very toxic herbaceous plant.

 

It grows everywhere in Estonia, in young and broadleaved forests as well as wooded meadows. Luckily it is not particularly abundant anywhere, and it cannot be confused with any other plant.

 

The herb Paris may be up to half a metre high. The stem of the plant is upright, in top on a short stalk four elliptic or reversed-eggshaped leaves (seldom more). The plant is crowned by a bluish-black slightly flattened berry – sometimes with a wax layer, sometimes shiny.

 

The Estonian name ussilakk, “snake lick” has in the old days meant “snake lick” which was thought to have turned the whole plant toxic.

 

The fruits and rhizome of the herb Paris are particularly dangerous. They cause abdominal pains, intestinal cramps, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and headache. Death may occur due to paralysis of cardiac and respiratory muscles.

 

 

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