Mercurialis perennis Dog's mercury (Euphorbiaceae)

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Mercurialis perennis
Dog's mercury
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The Mercurialis perennis plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Dog's mercury.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Mercurialis perennis
Common Name:  Dog's mercury
Family:  Euphorbiaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  All parts of the plant are poisonous[4, 65, 76].

Mature Height:  0.3   Mature Width:  1

Habitat:  Woods and shady places, usually in beech and oak woods, avoiding acid soils[4, 9, 13, 17, 31].

Cultivation Notes: Prefers a humus rich soil[13, 17]. Dog's mercury is a very invasive and common hedgerow plant, it should not be necessary to cultivate it. Male and female plants usualy grow in separate clumps, the females being less common[4]. The leaves contain trimethylamine and, in the early stages of putrefaction or when bruised, they give off the smell of rotting fish[245]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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