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Mercurialis perennis
  • Dog's Mercury

a perennial 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
  • Partial sun
    Partial sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent 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
  • 4
    Zone 4
    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 perennis has 0 material uses listed
Mercurialis perennis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

All parts of the plant are poisonous[1][2][3].

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Mercurialis perennis.

Material uses

A fine blue dye is obtained from the leaves[4][1][5], it is turned red by acids and destroyed by alkalis but is otherwise permanent[5]. It resembles indigo[5].

A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves[6].

The seed is a potential source of a very good drying oil[6].

Unknown part

Dye
Oil

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Dog's mercury is poisonous in the fresh state, though thorough drying or heating is said to destroy the poisonous principle[1]. The fresh juice of the whole plant is emetic, ophthalmic and purgative. It is used externally to treat women's complaints, ear and eye problems, warts and sores[1][7][8].

A lotion made from the plant is used for antiseptic external dressings[1].

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
Homeopathy
Ophthalmic
Purgative
Warts
Women's complaints

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - the plant shouldn't need any help in spreading itself, but if you are desperate to be completely overrun by it then you could spread the seed around when it is ripe in late spring and early summer. Division - once again, there really is no need to help the plant but you can divide the roots at any time of the year.

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



Cultivation

Prefers a humus rich soil[9][10].

Dog's mercury is a very invasive and common hedgerow plant, it should not be necessary to cultivate it. Male and female plants usually grow in separate clumps, the females being less common[1]. The leaves contain trimethylamine and, in the early stages of putrefaction or when bruised, they give off the smell of rotting fish[11].

Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Mercurialis perennis. 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 perennis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Mercurialis perennis
Genus
Mercurialis
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[1][7][8]
Material uses & Functions
[4][1][5][6]
Botanic
[10]
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
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
partial sun
Shade
permanent 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
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    0.3 x 1 meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Wind, Flies
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious

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    "image:Illustration Mercurialis perennis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Mercurialis perennis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


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    "image:Illustration Mercurialis perennis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.7 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. ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    9. ? Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
    11. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-31" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

    "image:Illustration Mercurialis perennis0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Mercurialis_perennis&oldid=78698"
    Facts about "Mercurialis perennis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyEuphorbiaceae +
    Belongs to genusMercurialis +
    Has binomial nameMercurialis perennis +
    Has common nameDog's Mercury +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile +, Wind + and Flies +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imageIllustration Mercurialis perennis0.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useDye + and Oil +
    Has mature height0.3 +
    Has mature width1 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useEmetic +, Homeopathy +, Ophthalmic +, Purgative +, Warts + and Women's complaints +
    Has primary imageIllustration Mercurialis perennis0.jpg +
    Has search namemercurialis perennis + and dog's mercury +
    Has shade tolerancePermanent shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferencePartial sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameMercurialis perennis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Mercurialis perennis +, Mercurialis perennis +, Mercurialis perennis +, Mercurialis perennis +, Mercurialis perennis +, Mercurialis perennis +, Mercurialis perennis + and Mercurialis perennis +