Paris quadrifolia Linnaeus var. setchuenensis Franchet; P. setchuenensis (Franchet) Barkalov.

Plants 25--45 cm tall. Rhizome slender, 2--4 mm thick. Leaves 4(or 5); petiole very short; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate or ovate-elliptic, 4--9 × 2--3.5 cm, base cuneate. Peduncle 2--7 cm. Outer tepals 4, reflexed, narrowly lanceolate, 1.7--3.5 cm × 3--5 mm; inner ones filiform-linear, 1.6--3.4 cm × 1--2 mm. Stamens 8; filaments 3--4 mm; anthers 6--11 mm; free portion of connective subulate, 4--9 mm. Ovary purple, globose, 2--3.5 mm in diam., 4(or 5)-loculed. Stigma lobes 4(or 5), slender. Berry purple, globose, many seeded. Seeds without aril. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Aug--Sep. 2 n = 10*.

* Moist and shady places in forests; 1400--4300 m. W Hubei, Sichuan.