Dog's Mercury
ExplorePlants
Dog's Mercury
Mercurialis perennis
Dog's Mercury is a green plant that grows in shady places like forests. It has lovely leaves and small flowers that are not very bright but are special to the plants around it.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Dog's Mercury has bright green, oval-shaped leaves that taper to a point, often slightly hairy. Its inconspicuous greenish flowers grow on upright, unbranched stems, with male and female flowers appearing on separate plants.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalpighialesFamilyEuphorbiaceaeGenusMercurialis
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Dog's Mercury gets a head start, blooming early before forest trees have leaves!
It's super good at spreading, often carpeting entire woodland floors!
Its male and female flowers grow on totally separate plants – a plant split!
Squashed Dog's Mercury can turn blue, a surprising color-changing trick!
Special abilities
Ability
Rapid Colonizer
Dog's Mercury can quickly spread underground using rhizomes, forming dense carpets across the forest floor.
Ability
Early Bloomer
Dog's Mercury has evolved to bloom in early spring, capturing sunlight before tree leaves fully emerge.
Ability
Toxicity Shield
Dog's Mercury has toxic compounds that deter most herbivores, helping it stay safe from being eaten.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-40 cm
- Spread
- 20-100 cm
- Bloom Season
- Early spring (February-April)
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Deadly
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eats
Mercury leaf beetle
Chrysolina fastuosa
Its larvae feed on the leaves of the plant.
shelters
Wood mouse
Apodemus sylvaticus
Hides among its dense ground cover in woodlands.
depends on
Common earthworm
Lumbricus terrestris
Decomposes its fallen leaves, enriching the soil with nutrients.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Regenerative
Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Do not eat any plants you find outside unless an adult says it's safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Dog's Mercury?
The easiest way to identify Dog's Mercury is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Dog's Mercury?
10-40 cm
How wide does Dog's Mercury spread?
20-100 cm
When does Dog's Mercury bloom?
Early spring (February-April)
Is Dog's Mercury edible?
No
Is Dog's Mercury toxic?
Deadly
What is Dog's Mercury's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Dog's Mercury pollinated?
Wind
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
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