A Monograph of Paris (Melanthiaceae)-Morphology, Biology, Systematics and Taxonomy
Paris L is a morphologically distinctive genus belonging to the monocotyledonous family Melanthiaceae (Liliales), according to the updated classification of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. Species of this genus are widely distributed throughout Eurasia, entering the Arctic at the northernmost limit and reaching Hainan Island and Indochina at the southernmost limit. Nearly all Paris species with a thick rhizome(medicinal Paris) are traditionally used as medicinal herbs in China, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnam, owing to their analgesic, hemostatic, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. To date, approximately 90 commercial drugs and health products have been developed in China using the rhizomes of medicinal Paris as raw materials. It is estimated that the income generated by the sale of these drugs and products is approximately 10 billion CNY(ca. 1.6 billion USD) per year.
Despite the great economic importance of Paris species, the taxonomy of the genus Paris remains controversial. Firstly, the circumscription of this genus, long in dispute, has not been satisfactorily resolved. Historically, Paris was recognized as either a single genus or divided into three narrowly defined genera (Daiswa, Kinugasa, and Paris s.s. )by different researchers. Similarly, previous phylogenetic analyses of Paris based on different DNA sequence datasets have yielded conflicting results. Secondly, the infrageneric classification of Paris is still questionable and controversial. To date, five infrageneric systems have been outlined. in which a total of two subgenera and eight sections have been recognized. It remains unclear how many subgenera and sections should be recognized within this genus, and what are the evolutionary relationships among them. Thirdly, the taxonomy of Paris is very complicated because of the diversity and plasticity of morphological characteristics at the species level. Approximately 95 taxa have been described to date. Although four major taxonomical revisions have been done in Paris since 1888, they are greatly contradictory in delineating species. As a result, the alpha taxonomy of Paris remains uncertain. To understand the true species diversity in this genus, a comprehensive taxonomic revision is urgently needed
Under the supervision of Prof. Heng Li, who has carried out the most recent and comprehensive taxonomic revision on this genus, my monographic study on the genus Paris initiated in 2002 when I was a Ph. D student. During the past 18 years, I have conducted extensive field observations and collections in China and neighboring countries, and have examined thousands of specimens (and specimen photos)from 88 herbaria worldwide. I have investigated the general morphology, pollen morphology, and genome size of Paris species.
With the advent of next-generation DNA sequencig technologies, I generated complete plastid genomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences, to reconstruct phylogenies and to assess the species delineation in this genus. Consequently, most of the taxonomic issues mentioned above have been satisfactorily elucidated. This monograph outlines a revised infrageneric system of Paris that includes five sections. Based on infragenerie evolutionary relationships and molecular dating, the biogeographic scenario of genus Paris is proposed
This book, which includes seven chapters, provides essential knowledge on the taxonomic history, morphology, biology, economic importance, phytochemistry, pharmaceutical prospects, origin, evolution lineage diversification, biogeography, taxonomy, and conservation of the genus Paris, as well as the description, characteristics, illustration, and distribution of each species. Given the great economic importance of this genus, such knowledge will be conducive to the exploration and protection of Paris species.