June 2016: Herb Paris [Paris quadrifolia] (Vierblättrige Einbeere): It belongs to the bunchflower family [Melanthiaceae] (Germergewächse). A late spring (scentless) flower typical for our mixed forests. It is in bloom just before the forest gets much darker when the deciduous tree's leaves grow and get more light-tight. You can see more Paris herbs in the background, only a few still get direct sunlight. Mostly the plant is tetramerous: four narrow greenish petals, eight stamens and a four-part brownish purple ovary, each part with a stigma. The blueberry-like berry (only 1 - in German "Einbeere" = 1 berry) as other parts of the plant is poisonous because of saponins. It seems that the berry symbolizes the apple of discord (in German: Erisapfel = apple of Eris): Eris wasn't invited to a marriage. All the same she arrived and threw a golden apple as a prize of beauty between them. Zeus didn't want to settle the dispute between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite and declared that Paris should judge - this finally led to the Trojan War! - Did you notice the little spider?
