WYCH ELM 



95 



from the so-called English Mercury, or Goosefoot, but from the French 

 Mercury (M. 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 M. anmia. 



The plant is poisonous, and not eaten by animals. When dry it 



Photo. Flatt 



DOG'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. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



276. Merciirialis perennis, L. -Dioecious, 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. 



