736 



THE SPURGE FAMILY. 



II. MERCURY. MERCUEIALIS. 



Erect herbs, with opposite leaves, and small green flowers in little 

 clusters, either sessile, stalked, or spiked in the axils of the leaves, the 

 males and females distinct, on the same or on separate plants. Perianth 

 of 3 segments. Male flowers with 9 to 12 stamens. Females with a 

 2-celled ovary, crowned by 2 simple styles, and surrounded by 2 or 

 3 small filaments. Capsule 2-celled, otherwise like that of Spurge. 



A small genus, spread over the temperate regions of the southern 

 as well as the northern hemisphere, and nearly connected with several 

 more tropical genera of weed-like, uninteresting plants. 

 Rootstock perennial. Stems simple. Flowers all in loose 



spikes 1. Perennial M. 



Root annual. Stem branched. Female flowers sessile or 



shortly stalked 2. Annual M. 



1. Perennial Mercury. Mercurialis perennis, Linn. 



(Fig. 889.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1872. Dogs Mercury.) 



Rootstock slender and creeping. Stems 

 erect, simple, 6 or 8 inches, or rarely 

 nearly a foot high. Leaves rather crowded 

 in the upper half, oblong or ovate-lan- 

 ceolate, 2 to 4 or 5 inches long, usually 

 pointed, crenate or serrated, and rough 

 or shortly hairy. Flowers dioecious, on 

 slender axillary peduncles, often nearly 

 as long as the leaves ; the males in little 

 clusters, the females singly or 2 toge- 

 ther. Ovaries larger than the perianth, 

 with rather long, spreading styles. Cap- 

 sules more or less covered with warts or 

 soft prickles. 



In woods and shady places, through- 

 out Europe and Russian Asia, except 

 the extreme north. Abundant in Eng- 

 land, and a great part of Scotland, very 

 rare in Ireland. Fl. early spring, com- 

 mencing before its leaves are fully out. 



2. Annual Mercury. Mercurialis annua, Linn. (Fig. 890.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 559.) 

 /An erect, glabrous annual, 6 inches to a foot high, with opposite 



