ENCHANTER'S NIGHTSHADE

Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana)is more closely related to the willow herbs than to any of the nightshades.  As far as I know it is not poisonous but it is named after the Ancient Greek mythical enchantress Circe, and so carries a mystical aura.

The flowers are on thin stalks on a spike held well above the leaves and each consists of two deeply notched petals so they look like four.  The whole thing looks very delicate and graceful.  The flowers develop into tiny fruits like little velcro balls which hitch on to animals including humans, thereby spreading the seeds around.

Although it looks feeble, the pure white roots spread and it can cover a lot of ground - usually in the shade.  A bit of it is OK but in a garden it can be rather a menace.