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Common Name: Dog's Mercury

General Information

Mercurialis perennis is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.30 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous[, , ].

Botanical References

Range

Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain and S.W. Asia.

Habitat

Woods and shady places, usually in beech and oak woods, avoiding acid soils[, , , , ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind, Flies
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a humus rich soil[, ].
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[].
The leaves contain trimethylamine and, in the early stages of putrefaction or when bruised, they give off the smell of rotting fish[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Dog's mercury is poisonous in the fresh state, though thorough drying or heating is said to destroy the poisonous principle[]. 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[, , ].

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

A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, dropsy, diarrhoea and disorders of the gall bladder and liver[].

Other Uses

A fine blue dye is obtained from the leaves[, , ], it is turned red by acids and destroyed by alkalis but is otherwise permanent[]. It resembles indigo[].
A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves[].
The seed is a potential source of a very good drying oil[].

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.