Mercurialis (plant) explained

Mercurialis is a genus of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae, the spurges, known commonly as the mercuries. These are slender herbs (forbs), rhizomatious perennials and woody perennials, native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia.^{[1] [2]}

Species

1. Mercurialis annua L. – most of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East (from Turkey to Iran and Qatar), and islands of the eastern Atlantic (Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, etc.)
2. Mercurialis canariensis Obbard & S.A.Harris – Canary Islands
3. Mercurialis corsica Coss. & Kralik – Corsica, Sardinia
4. Mercurialis elliptica Lam. – Spain, Portugal, Morocco
5. Mercurialis huetii Hanry – Spain, France, Morocco
6. Mercurialis leiocarpa Siebold & Zucc. – China, Japan, Korea, Ryukyu Islands, Thailand, Assam, Bhutan, Nepal
7. Mercurialis × longifolia Lam. – Spain, Portugal, France (M. annua × M. tomentosa)
8. Mercurialis ovata Sternb. & Hoppe – C + E Europe and SW Asia from Germany + Italy to Russia + Syria
9. Mercurialis × paxii Graebn. – C + E Europe from Germany to Crimea (M. ovata × M. perennis)
10. Mercurialis perennis L. – most of Europe plus Algeria, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran
11. Mercurialis reverchonii Rouy – Spain, Morocco
12. Mercurialis tomentosa L. – Spain, Portugal, France, Balearic Islands

formerly includedtransferred to other genera (Acalypha Adenocline Claoxylon Leidesia Micrococca Seidelia Speranskia)

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• GRIN Genus Profile

Notes and References

1. http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/floraspecie.php?genere=Mercurialis Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Mercurialis
2. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=120266 Flora of China Vol. 11 Page 247 山靛属 shan dian shu Mercurialis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1035. 1753.