Common name:
Dog's mercury
Family:
Scientific name:
Mercurialis perennis
Main flower color:
Range:
All of the UK except northern Scotland
Height:
Up to 35 cm
Habitat:
Woodland and mountain slopes, often on limestone soils; can form extensive clumps
Flowers:
Tiny, greenish yellow, in spikes. Plants produce either male or female flowers; the former have three sepals and up to 15 stamens, and are arranged in closely-spaced whorls, while the latter have three sepals and a rounded pistil, and are borne in small groups (up to three)
Fruit:
Hairy green capsules
Leaves:
Opposite, ovate, shiny, sparsely short-hairy, up to 8 cm long, with toothed margins
Season:
February to April
Rarity:
★★★★★
