Dog's Mercury | Spurge family |
Mercurialis perennis | Euphorbiaceae |
Dog's Mercury is a perennial of woodland and shady hedgerows, which flowers in early spring
to take advantage of the light before the trees come into leaf.
It spreads to form extensive patches in woodland using underground suckers.
The tiny yellow male flowers and green female
flowers are on separate plants,
with the female plant being larger.
The whole plant is poisonous, especially to animals, hence the "mercury" part of its name.
Male flowers | Female flowers |