The aim of this study was to define the morphological characteristics of the genus Paris in Vietnam. Morphological description, dichotomous key for identification, ecology and distributions of the genus in Vietnam are reported. The results show that this genus in Vietnam comprises 8 species and 2 varieties, possesing unilocular ovary with parietal placenta. | Taxonomy TAP CHI of the SINH genusHOC Paris2016, L. (Melanthiaceae) 38(3): 333-339 DOI: TAXONOMY OF THE GENUS Paris L. (Melanthiaceae) IN VIETNAM Nguyen Quynh Nga*, Pham Thanh Huyen, Phan Van Truong, Hoang Van Toan National Institute of Medicinal Materials ABSTRACT: Paris L. is a small genus distributed widely in Eurasia. In Vietnam Paris occur in evergreen broad-leaved forests in some mountainous areas of the North and the Central highlands. Due to over-exploitation as well as habitat loss, populations of some Paris species are seriously declining. This genus has not been studied extensively in Vietnam. The aim of this study was to define the morphological characteristics of the genus Paris in Vietnam. Morphological description, dichotomous key for identification, ecology and distributions of the genus in Vietnam are reported. The results show that this genus in Vietnam comprises 8 species and 2 varieties, possesing unilocular ovary with parietal placenta. Keywords: Melanthiaceae, Paris, identification key, morphological description, Vietnam. Citation: Nguyen Quynh Nga, Pham Thanh Huyen, Phan Van Truong, Hoang Van Toan, 2016. Taxonomy of the genus Paris L. (Melanthiaceae) in Vietnam. Tap chi Sinh hoc, 38(3): 333-339. DOI: . *Corresponding author: nguyenquynhnga@. INTRODUCTION The genus Paris L. (Melanthiaceae), which is locally known as Bay la mot hoa or Trong lau, is a small genus distributed in evergreen broadleaved forests of some mountainous areas in the North and the Central highlands of Vietnam. Originally this genus comprised 5 species in Vietnam [3]. Then, Do (2007) [1] recorded 6 species after a first extensive study. However, ovaries of those species in her work were erroneously described as multilocular with axile placentation instead of unilocular with parietal placentation, as mentioned in the orginial description as well as other relevant works [2, 6]. Recently, 2 more new .
