Annual mercury

Mercurialis annua

Annual mercury is a green plant that grows in many places. It has soft leaves and can be found in gardens and fields, making it easy to spot during nature walks.

Hábitat: Urban areas

Aspecto

The Annual mercury is a bushy plant with opposite, bright to dark green leaves that are often serrated. Its tiny, inconspicuous green flowers grow in clusters at the leaf axils, making it look quite ordinary compared to showier plants.

ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenMalpighialesFamiliaEuphorbiaceaeGéneroMercurialis

Annual mercury

Categoría

Plantas

Rareza

Common

Peligro

2/5 · Bajo

Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Annual mercury is often the very first plant to sprout in freshly dug garden soil!

Despite being poisonous, it was once used for medicine by ancient people!

Eating this plant can make milk from cows taste bitter or even toxic!

Its scientific name 'Mercurialis' might hint at its quick, mercurial spread!

Habilidades especiales

Annual mercury has male and female flowers on separate plants, ensuring genetic diversity for stronger offspring.

It can grow and produce seeds very quickly, helping it colonize new, disturbed areas fast for survival.

Its tiny flowers release pollen into the wind, letting it spread far without needing insect help to reproduce.

Medidas y detalles

Altura: 10-60 cm
Extensión: 15-40 cm
Temporada de floración: Summer-fall
Comestible: No
Toxicidad: Moderada
Ciclo de vida: Anual
Método de polinización: Viento

Conexiones ecológicas

depends on

Humans

Homo sapiens

Thrives in disturbed soil created by human activity.

eats

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

These birds may consume its small seeds.

shelters

Ground Beetle

Carabus nemoralis

Its bushy growth provides shelter for small insects.

Rasgos

Floración

Las plantas con flores son cualquier planta que produce flores como parte de su ciclo reproductivo.

Medicinal

Las plantas medicinales poseen compuestos químicos que pueden utilizarse con fines terapéuticos para tratar enfermedades o mantener la salud.

Comestible

Las plantas comestibles son aquellas partes de una planta que se consideran seguras para el consumo humano.

Crecimiento rápido

Las plantas de crecimiento rápido exhiben tasas de crecimiento aceleradas, aumentando rápidamente de tamaño y biomasa en un corto período de tiempo.

Adaptado a la ciudad

Esta característica de hábitat indica especies que pueden coexistir con los humanos en entornos urbanos y suburbanos, utilizando estructuras artificiales y espacios verdes.