WYCH ELM 95 
from the so-called English Mercury, or Goosefoot, but from the French 
Mercury (JZ. annua), formerly used in medicine. It is called Kentish 
Balsam, “from the similarity of the leaf to that of the Garden Balsam”, 
and Town-weed from the growth of the plant in towns and town 
gardens, though this name may refer to JZ. annua. 
The plant is poisonous, and not eaten by animals. When dry it 
Photo, Flatters & Garnett 
Doc's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis, L.) 
turns blue, and steeped in water yields a deep blue dye, which is not 
permanent. It is acrid. The plant has been eaten as a spinach. It 
is laxative in effect. 
The male and female plants are not usually found in the same 
district, and therefore Dog’s Mercury does not always produce perfect 
seed, being largely increased by the root-stock. 
EssentTIAL SpectrIC CHARACTERS :— 
276. Mercurials perennis, L.—Dicecious, stem erect, simple, leaf- 
less below, leaves petioled, lanceolate, hispid, male flowers in axillary 
spikes, female in clusters hidden by leaves. 
Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra, Huds. (montana, Stokes)) 
This is an ancient tree, remains being found in the Preglacial beds 
at Happisburgh, Suffolk, and in Interglacial beds at Grays, Essex. 
It now occurs in Europe and in Siberia, and is generally distributed 
in the N. Temperate Zone. 
