MERCURY. 123 



the perianth is single, and divided into three deep, ovate, con- 

 cave, spreading, yellowish-green segments ; the stamens vary 

 from nine to twelve, with capillary filaments, and globose two- 

 lobed anthers. The female flowers are disposed in short 

 axillary spikes, nearly twin ; the perianth resembles that of the 

 sterile plants ; the germen is superior, roundish, compressed, 

 bristly, with a furrow on each side, supporting two tapering, 

 reflexed styles, slightly serrated on their inner side, with acute 

 stigmas. (Two or three subulate bodies are sometimes found at 

 the base of the germen, which are supposed to be sterile or 

 abortive stamens.) The fruit is a two-lobed, two-celled, 

 globose, scabrous capsule ; each cell containing a single globose 

 seed, of a brownish purple colour. Plate 32, fig. 4, (a) spike of 

 female flowers ; (6) entire barren flower ; (c) perianth ; (d) pistil ; 

 (e) section of the capsule to show the seeds ; (f) seed. 



This plant is common in woods and shady places, on banks, 

 and by walls and hedges. The male and female plants are 

 generally found in separate patches, so that it would appear to 

 increase chiefly by the root. It flowers in April and May. 



The name is derived from that of the god Mercury, who 

 is said to have discovered the virtues, whatever they may be, 

 of this genus. Bohmer supposes that the name is a corrup- 

 tion of Muliercuralis, as being useful to women, but the Greeks 

 called it ippov xou, Mercury's grass. 



The other indigenous species of Mercury is the Mercurialis 

 annua, characterized by its annual fibrous root, smooth leaves, 

 and stem with opposite branches. It flowers in August, and 

 grows in waste places near towns and villages ; but is much 

 less common than the species here figured. It is a mucila- 

 ginous plant, and was formerly much employed in medicine, 

 chiefly in clysters and emollient fomentations ; "when boiled it 

 has been eaten as greens, and if taken in considerable quantities 

 it proves cathartic. 



Qualities and Uses. — The dried plant turns of a blue or 

 blackish green, and by infusion in water the colour is com- 

 pletely extracted ; it is destructible, however, by acids and 

 alkalies. According to Bechstein, the root affords both a 

 blue and crimson colour, useful in dyeing and painting. It 

 has been remarked that this colouring matter indicates its 

 affinity to the Croton tinctorium, or Turnsol, and indeed to many 



