Herb Paris (True Lover's Knot, Devil-in-a-Bush)
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- Common Name: Herb Paris (True Lover's Knot, Devil-in-a-Bush)
- Latin Name: Paris quadrifolia
- Family Name: Melanthiaceae (formerly Trilliaceae)
Herb Paris is often found growing in or around woodlands and damp shady areas. The roots and fruits of this plant contains saponins and the glucoside paridin, which in high amounts can cause nausea, vomiting, delirium, convulsions, and has caused fatalities in children and animals, so it is best to remove the plant completely from any area in which your tortoise might stray.
Herb Paris normally has four egg-shaped leaves arranged in a cross, but occasionally it has more than four leaves. Do not confuse with Creeping Dogwood/Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), which has leaves that look similar to Herb Paris, but different flowers.
