Dog's Mercury is a
native
perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in woodland, hedgerows and damp areas, to a mature height of up to 35cm.
Dog's Mercury has male and female plants: male flowers are borne on long flowering stalks and have multiple stamens, with cream anthers, emerging from the centre of three green sepals; female flowers are borne on short flowering stalks and have paired fused pistils sitting within sepals.
Botanic classification and naming: Dog's Mercury is a member of the Spurge (Euphorbiaceae) family. The genus name
'Mercurialis' identifies the plant as a Mercury and its species name 'perennis' means 'perennial plant'.
Concerns: All parts of Dog's Mercury are highly poisonous, containing toxins affecting the digestive, urinary and nervous sytems. Dog's Mercury can spread rapidly to preclude other species.
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