Dog mercury (Mercurialis perennis, Sp. Pl.: 1035 (1753))

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 1035 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Mercurialis

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe, Medit. to N. Iran

Description

Dog mercury, scientifically known as Mercurialis perennis, is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. This plant is native to Europe and extends its range from the Mediterranean regions to northern Iran. It typically thrives in deciduous woodlands, preferring the shaded, moist environments that these habitats provide.

Mercurialis perennis, often recognized by its dull green leaves and unassuming appearance, plays a somewhat understated role in the ecosystems it inhabits. The plant has a creeping rhizome system that enables it to spread and establish dense carpets on the forest floor. Dog mercury blooms in early spring, producing small, insignificant flowers that are usually wind-pollinated. The flowers are dioecious, meaning there are distinct male and female plants, a characteristic feature of this species.

Despite its unremarkable appearance, Mercurialis perennis is significant in forest ecology. It can often be an indicator of ancient woodland, due to its slow spreading nature and preference for undisturbed habitats. The presence of dog mercury can indicate a long history of woodland cover for a given area.

However, it’s important to note that dog mercury is toxic if ingested, containing compounds that can be harmful to humans and animals. Therefore, while it contributes to the biodiversity and structural complexity of forest ecosystems, it’s not a plant that should be handled carelessly, especially by foragers and those unfamiliar with its toxic properties.

Given its wide range across Europe and into parts of Asia, Mercurialis perennis has been the subject of various studies focused on plant ecology and woodland habitat preservation. The plant was first described in a detailed formal botanical publication in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus.

Overall, dog mercury is an integral yet modest part of the woodland flora, playing essential ecological roles while also serving as a historical marker of ancient forests. Despite its toxic nature, Mercurialis perennis is valued by botanists and ecologists for its contributions to understanding woodland ecosystems.

Common Names

Dan: almindelig bingelurt
Deu: ausdauerndes bingelkraut, wald-bingelkraut
Nld: bosbingelkruid
Eng: dog mercury, dog’s mercury
Swe: lehtosinijuuri, skogsbingel
Fin: lehtosinijuuri
Fra: mercuriale pérenne, mercuriale vivace
Nno: skogbingel
Nob: skogbingel
Cym: blaen yr iwrch, bresych y cŵn, bresych y cŵn parhaus, bresychen y cŵn, cawl y cŵn, cifresych, clais yr hydd, clais yr hydd barhaus, cwlwm yr asgwrn, dail cwlwm yr asgwrn
En: Dog mercury, Dog’s mercury, Wild Mercury
Ar: حلبوب معمر
Eu: Merkuriar iraunkor
Be: Пралеснік многагадовы
Bg: Многогодишен пролез
Ca: Melcoratge de bosc
Kw: Mergherles fug
Cs: Bažanka vytrvalá
Da: Almindelig Bingelkraut, Wald-Bingelkraut, Almindelig Bingelurt, Bingelurt
Nl: Bosbingelkruid, Overblijvend bingelkruid
Et: Püsik-seljarohi
Fi: Lehtosinijuuri
Fr: Mercuriale pérenne, Mercuriale vivace, Mercuriale des montagnes
De: Ausdauerndes Bingelkraut, Wald-Bingelkraut, Waldbingelkraut, Bergbingelkraut
Hu: Erdei szélfű
Ga: Lus glinne
It: Mercorella bastarda
Lt: Daugiametis laiškenis
Nb: Skogbingel
Nn: Skogbingel
Fa: مرکوریالیس پرنیس
Pl: Szczyr trwały
Ru: Пролесник многолетний
Sk: Bažanka trváca
Es: Trpežni golšec, Berza de perro, Berza perruna, Chordiga muerta, Malcoraje hembra, Malcoraje macho, Mercurial montana, Mercurial oficinal, Mercurial perenne, Mercurial perennne, Mercurial, Murcarol
Sv: Skogsbingel, Bingel, Lehtosinijuuri
Uk: Переліска багаторічна
Cy: Bresychen y cŵn, Blaen yr Iwrch, Bresych y Cŵn, Bresych y Cŵn Parhaus, Cawl y Cŵn, Cifresych, Clais yr Hydd, Clais yr Hydd Barhaus, Cwlwm yr Asgwrn, Dail Cwlwm yr Asgwrn

Synonyms

• Mercurialis perennis f. ovatifolia (Hausskn.)
• Mercurialis nemoralis (Salisb.)
• Mercurialis perennis f. sylvatica ((Hoppe) Rouy & Foucaud)
• Mercurialis perennis f. saxicola (Beck)
• Mercurialis cynocrambe (Scop.)
• Mercurialis perennis f. robusta (Gross)
• Mercurialis alpina (Schur)
• Mercurialis perennis f. genuina (Müll.Arg.)
• Mercurialis perennis f. glabra (Beck)
• Mercurialis perennis subvar. sylvatica ((Hoppe) Nyman)
• Mercurialis perennis subvar. alpina ((Schur) Nyman)
• Mercurialis perennis var. subalpina (Schur)
• Synema perenne ((L.) Dulac)
• Mercurialis perennis var. brachyphylla (Willk.)
• Mercurialis sylvatica (Hoppe)
• Mercurialis sylvestris (Bubani)
• Mercurialis longifolia (Host)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Italy (native)
• Krym (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Ireland (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Sep 18, 2019 by Holman Clare (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2022 by Cal Whimsey (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 25, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 25, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Apr 18, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 5, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 11, 2021 by The Raven Girl (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 30, 2019 by Busqué Juan (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Mar 12, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 12, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 17, 2022 by philippe causse (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Feb 13, 2022 by Reinhard Hampel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 5, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2022 by Axelle SALESSE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 11, 2020 by D W (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 3, 2021 by gabrial erismann (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Apr 24, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Françoise CARLE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 27, 2022 by Stéphane Manceron (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 12, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 12, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 22, 2021 by Svenja Str (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 3, 2018 by Emmanuelle March (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 2, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Emmanuel STRATMAINS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:352211-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3063016)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Mercurialis perennis L.)

Specifications

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.0

Ph minimum: 6.5

Light: 3

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’, ‘jun’]

Soil nutriments: 7