Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

In traditional medicine 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[Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984].
https://pfaf.org https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Mercurialis+perennis

Other use

A dye can be obtained from the foliage.

Toxicity

HTA Guide to potentially harmful plants: 'Pets: Harmful if eaten.'
HTA Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants, 3rd Edition (2022)

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria
  • Asia-Temperate, Caucasus
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia
  • Europe
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain

Mercurialis perennis L.

Family: EUPHORBIACEAE
Genus: Mercurialis
Species: perennis L.
Common names: Dog's mercury; Adder's meat
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Mercurialis
Distribution summary: Africa, Europe, temperate Asia
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H4 - Hardy; average winter
Habitat: Woodlands
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plane tree bed (P)
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use


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