OLASS XXIL, ORDER Vit. ] MERCURIALIS. 1291 
ORDER VII. 
ENNEAN’DRIA. 9 SramMeENs. 
— 
GENUS XI. MERCURIA'LIS —Linn. Wercury. 
Nat. Ord. Evpaorsia'chm. JUuSs. 
Gey. Cuan. Perianth single, three-partite. Barren flowers with 
nine to twelve séamens, the anthers of two globose lobes. Fertile 
flowers with two styles from a furrow on each side of the ovary. 
Capsules two celled, each cell single seeded.—So called because 
it is said the god Mercury discovered the virtues of this plant. 
1. MW. peren'nis, Linn. (Fig. 1552.) Perennial or Dog's Mercury. 
Root creeping; stem quite simple; leaves rough, ovate lanceolate, 
petiolate ; fertile flowers on long peduncles. 
English Botany, t. 1872.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 248.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. 1. p. 877.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 223. 
Root perennial, widely creeping. Stem erect, simple, about a foot 
high, square, leafy, hairy or smooth. Leaves opposite, on short foot- 
stalks, ovate or ovate lanceolate, dark green above, paler beneath, and 
rough, with short hairs, the margin obtusely serrated. Stipules 
small, ovate, reflexed. J lowers in interrupted axillary spikes, the 
barren ones as long or longer than the leaves, the fertile ones shorter. 
Fruit two globose cells, attached to a column, rough, with rigid 
hairs, each lobe single celled, containing a globose seed. 
Habitat. Woods and shady places; abundant. 
Perennial ; flowerivg in April and May. 
This plant is possessed of poisonous properties, and is found to be 
deleterious both to man and animals. It causes, when taken, \ omit. 
ing and purging, which is succeeded by coma and death. The 
accidents which have arisen from it, have been by turning sheep or 
cattie into fields or woods, where it grows abundantly; and when 
there is a deficiency of other green food, and to man accidental 
poisoning has occurred, from the plant having been mistaken for 
Chenopeedia and other pot-herbs. The young plants turn blue in 
drying, but when they are in fruit they retain their green colour. 
2. M. ann'ua, Linn. (Fig. 1553.) Annual Mercury. Root fibrous ; 
stem branched ; leaves smooth, ovate lanceolate, or ovate, petiolated ; 
fertile flowers nearly sessile, 
English Botany, t. 559.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 248.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 577.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 223. 
Root much branched, fibrous. Siem erect, from six to twelve 
inches high, angular, smooth, much branched and leafy above. 
Leaves opposite, ovate lanceolate, or lanceolate, smooth, shining 
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