Common name : Dog’s Mercury
Latin name : Mercurialis perennis
Member of the Spurge family (Euphorbiaaceae)
There are two species of Mercury in British Isles. The perennial Dog’s Mercury may come up in flower beds but is more typically a woodland plant.
You can see this plant below the established trees along Lansdown Road/Alfriston road and can be seen well from the west bound bus stop (named Seafield close)
Annual Mercury is a common “weed” in many Seaford gardens, coming up when the soil is disturbed or cultivated for seed sowing.
Both species are dioecious, that is they bear male or female flowers on separate plants. In the mixed group of plants shown in Fig. 2 the males are more obvious with their upright spikes of tiny pollen bearing flowers. The female plants look rather darker and dull. In fact their fruits are hidden amongst the leaves and look like miniature horse-chestnuts.
To find out more about Mercury see this blog below!
