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Mercurialis annua
  • Annual Mercury

an annual member of the Mercurialis genus in the family Euphorbiaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Mercurialis annua has 0 edible uses listed
Mercurialis annua has 0 material uses listed
Mercurialis annua has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The plant is poisonous, but less so than the perennial M. perennis[1][2][3][4].

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - cooked[5][1][3][6]. They were at one time quite popular, being used like spinach[1]. The acrid principle is said to be destroyed by thoroughly boiling the leaves[1]. The raw leaves are poisonous[3]. It is probably wise not to eat the leaves of this plant[7].

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

This species is a potential source of a very good drying oil[8].

Unknown part

Oil

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The whole plant, and especially the juice, is emetic, emollient and purgative. It is used externally to treat women's complaints, ear and eye problems, warts and sores[1][7]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[7]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, dropsy, diarrhoea and disorders of the gall bladder and liver[7].

Unknown part

Emetic
Emollient
Homeopathy
Ophthalmic
Purgative
Warts
Women's complaints

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Mercurialis annua. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A common garden weed in Britain, it should need little encouragement. When well suited, it tends to spread itself around too freely for most people's tastes[1]. It dislikes growing in shady positions. Plants are normally dioecious, though monoecious plants are sometimes found[1]. Male and female plants must normally be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Mercurialis annua. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Mercurialis annua.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Mercurialis annua
Genus
Mercurialis
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[5][1][3][6][7]
Medicinal uses
[1][7]
Material uses & Functions
[8]
Botanic
[9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.5 x meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Flies, Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious

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    "image:Mercurialis annua Sturm36.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Mercurialis annua Sturm36.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Mercurialis annua Sturm36.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


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    "image:Mercurialis annua Sturm36.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.8 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press ISBN 0-946284-51-2 (1985-00-00)
    4. ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (1984-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.47.5 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    9. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-1" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

    "image:Mercurialis annua Sturm36.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Mercurialis_annua&oldid=78696"
    Facts about "Mercurialis annua"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyEuphorbiaceae +
    Belongs to genusMercurialis +
    Has common nameAnnual Mercury +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile +, Bee +, Flies + and Wind +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has imageMercurialis annua Sturm36.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useOil +
    Has mature height0.5 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useEmetic +, Emollient +, Homeopathy +, Ophthalmic +, Purgative +, Warts + and Women's complaints +
    Has primary imageMercurialis annua Sturm36.jpg +
    Has search namemercurialis annua + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameMercurialis annua +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +