Mercurialis perennis

Mercurialis perennis, commonly known as dog's mercury, is a poisonous woodland plant found in much of Europe as well as in Algeria, Iran, Turkey, and the Caucasus, but almost absent from Ireland, Orkney and Shetland.[1][2] A member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), it is a herbaceous, downy perennial with erect stems bearing simple, serrate leaves. The dioecious inflorescences are green, bearing inconspicuous flowers from February to April. It characteristically forms dense, extensive carpets on the floor of woodlands and beneath hedgerows.

Dog's mercury
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Mercurialis
Species:
M. perennis
Binomial name
Mercurialis perennis

Growth and location
Mercurialis perennis in Harku Parish, Estonia.

Mercurialis perennis is a herbaceous plant. It usually grows in dense masses often in the ground flora of beech, oak, ash, elm and other types of woodlands in Europe.[3] It also grows under the shade of hedgerows and scrub. It has a preference for moderately shady to densely shady habitats. It is able to colonize new deciduous woods on dry, calcareous soils at an annual rate of a meter or more.[4] Under such conditions, the plants, especially the females, often display a darker green color. Its period of reproductive activity depends upon a number of factors such as illumination, soil reaction, soil moisture, etc. These factors also affect the duration of reproductive activity.[3]

Dog's mercury favors alkaline (basic) soils and can be found in abundance in suitable habitats in limestone regions.[3] It also occurs widely on neutral soils but is absent from acidic ones. Spreading by underground rhizomes, where its dense growth may shade out other woodland flowers such as oxlip, fly orchid, and even young ash seedlings,[4] but in the open, it eventually gives way to other plants.

Mercurialis perennis extends from sea level to the mountain range. The ultimate height attained in different mountainous regions, e.g. in Scotland, England, Germany, and Switzerland, naturally varies with the latitude and other geographical factors.[3] Existing colonies in some parts of Britain (including some in woods on boulder clay in East Anglia), are expanding and showing increased vigor, perhaps as a result of deeper shade in woodlands where coppicing has ceased.[4]

Names

The plant's common name derives from the plant's resemblance to the unrelated Chenopodium bonus-henricus (Good King Henry, also known as mercury, markry, markery, Lincolnshire spinach). Since Mercurialis perennis is highly poisonous, it was named "dog's" mercury (in the sense of "false" or "bad").[4] It has also been known as boggard posy.

Categorization

There are separate male and female plants (the species is dioecious). the plants are born at the base of the leaves similar to nettles. The flower spikes (about 1-1.5 inches long) appear between February and May. The catkin-like male flowers have a yellow color (due to yellow stamens) and female flowers have 3 tepals (petals and sepals are combined or indistinguishable).[5]

Taxonomy

The genus Mercurialis belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and to the subfamily Crotonoideae. It is included in the tribe Acalyphae, which is characterized by clusters of flowers[3] It is also characterized by the lack of any laticiferous tissue, in the place of which tanniniferous cells (or tissue) are sometimes found.[3]

According to Pax (1914), there are three other genera related to Mercurialis; Seidelia, Leidesia and Dysopsis. The differences between these are based on the characteristics of the calyx and stamens.[3]

The genus Mercurialis itself consists of nine species and the main taxonomic characteristics used in distinguishing them are the clusters of floration, the annual or perennial habit, and the glabrous or hairy condition of the vegetative organs, but chiefly the ovary and the capsule, the woody or herbaceous nature of the plant, and lastly the character of the lamina.[3]

Plant community

Dog's mercury is one of the characteristic plants of several woodland types, in particular:

  • W8 Fraxinus excelsior - Acer campestre - Mercurialis perennis woodland
  • W9 Fraxinus excelsior - Sorbus aucuparia - Mercurialis perennis woodland
  • W12 Fagus sylvatica - Mercurialis perennis woodland

Variations in morphology

M. perennis has variation in its morphological characters. This is noticeable in the outline, shape, and hairiness of its leaves, in the size of the lower leaves, in the number of stamens, and in the size of the seeds and fruits.[3] M. perennis possesses three distinct varieties are:

  1. M. perennis L. var. genuina Miiller-Aarg
  2. M. perennis L. var. Salisburyana Mukerji (Mukerji, 1927).
  3. M. perennis L. var. leiocarpa Mukerji (syn. M. leiocarpa Sieb. et Zucc.)

Note:- M. perennis L. var. Salisburyana Mukerji (Mukerji, 1927) was discovered in March 1926 at Staplehurst (Kent). It differs from M. perennis L. var. genuina Miiller-Aarg in the following respects:

  • serrated leaf margin
  • shorter petiole
  • darker green color
  • more hispid character
  • shorter and upwardly directed stigmas

Habitat variation

Besides those three variations of M. perennis there are six habitat forms in nature:[3]

  • f. silvatica (Hoppe s. str.). Leaves elongated, elliptic-lanceolate, pointed. Mid-nerve and veins of the leaves usually are thicker.[3]
  • f. ovatifolia (Hausskn.). Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, the upper part of the stem above the middle region generally hangs down. This form grows on sunny slopes in bushes and thickets or on entirely exposed dry situations.
  • f. angustifolia (Murr.). Grows, like the preceding, in sunny situations, but the leaves are comparatively narrow and lanceolate, more hairy and thicker.[3]
  • f. robusta (Gross). Leaves unusually large, 10–15 cm. long, and over 5 cm. broad. Seeds 4–5 mm. long. Plants very much taller and more robust, sometimes attaining a height of about 60–65 cm. Generally found under old oak or beech in fairly damp and shady localities.[3]
  • f. saxicola (Beck.). Leaves elongate-elliptic, 4-5 times as long as broad, gradually tapering towards the apex. Both the upper and lower faces of the leaves hairier. Generally on exposed chalky hills.[3]
  • f. variegata (Mukerji). Its leaves possess beautiful mottled patches of yellow and white, and by continued cultivation, this may be further improved.[3]

Chemical characteristics

All parts of the dog's mercury are highly poisonous. Methylamine (mercurialine) and trimethylamine are thought to be present, together with a volatile basic oil, mercurialine, and saponins.[6] The scent of the plant is often described as 'foetid' due to the presence of trimethylamine which often gives off a rotting fish smell.[5] Mercurialine is thought to be one of the active principle parts that are responsible for the toxicity of the herb.[7] It is known to induce hemorrhagic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. There is apparently some narcotic action, which induces drowsiness, and mild muscular spasms.[7]

One hypothesized mechanism of toxicity was discovered in 1900s. A researcher induced toxicity with dog's mercury, frozen at different stages of growth and fed it to sheep. Based on this experiment, these effects may be due to different toxic factors that are developed at different growth stages.[7] Another hypothesis is that one toxin might be culpable for the symptoms and illness.[7]

  • saponin
  • methylamine
  • trimethylamine

Symptoms

Symptoms of poisoning appear within a few hours; they can include vomiting, pain, gastric and kidney inflammation, and sometimes inflammation of the cheeks and jaw ("malar erythema") and drowsiness.[8] Larger doses cause lethargy, jaundice, painful urination, apparently by making the urine acid, and coma before death.[9]

Medicinal uses

The dog's mercury is poisonous by itself but with a thorough drying/heating, one is able to destroy its poisonous quality. The juice of the plant is emetic, ophthalmic and purgative. It can be used externally to treat menstrual pain, ear, and eye problems, warts, and sores. A lotion can be made from the plant for antiseptic external dressing due to its ability to soften and moisturize the skin.

Other uses

A fine blue dye can be obtained from the leaves although it is able to be turned red by acids and destroyed by alkalis. It is often permanent and colouration is similar to indigo. A yellow dye can be obtained from the leaves. The seeds are also a good source of drying oil.[8]

Reported cases of poisonings

The first-known account of this phenomenon probably dates from 1693, when a family of five became seriously ill as a result of eating the plant (after boiling and frying it); one of the children died some days later as a result.[4]

Apart from Chenopodium bonus-henricus and some other edible members of the Chenopodiaceae (also known as mercuries), the most similar-looking species is probably Mercurialis annua, annual mercury, which is also thought to be poisonous.[6] Dog's mercury has been eaten in mistake for brooklime.[4]

In 1983, a couple was reported of having eaten a large quantity of leaves after washing and boiling the plant after mistaking it for brooklime.[7] Both patients were hospitalized complaining of nausea, vomiting, and severe bilateral colicky loin pain and present signs of malar erythema but no signs of cardiovascular/respiratory disorders. They presented signs similar to an allergic reaction. They suffered severe gastrointestinal complications which led to dehydration. Once the toxin was identified, they were given sodium bicarbonate four times a day to neutralize the acidity of the urine. They recovered after two days of rest and continuous observation and monitoring.[7]

An outbreak of fatal mercurialis poisoning in the Welsh mountain ewes was reported which included hemolytic anemia without marrow suppression and acute oedematous gastroenteritis with hepatic centrilobular necrosis.[7]

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References
  1. "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families".
  2. Altervista Flora Italiana, Mercorella bastarda, Mercurialis perennis L. includes photos, drawings, and a European distribution map
  3. Mukerji, S. K. (1936). Contributions to the autecology of Mercurialis perennis L. Journal of Ecology, 24(1), 38-81.
  4. Mabey, Richard, Flora Britannica, Sinclair-Stevenson, London, 1996, pp256–257. ISBN 1-85619-377-2
  5. "Dog's mercury - Woodlands.co.uk". www.woodlands.co.uk.
  6. Cooper, Marion R, & Johnson, Anthony W, Poisonous Plants & Fungi – An illustrated guide, HMSO, London, 1991, pp48–49, ISBN 0-11-242718-9
  7. Rugman, F., Meecham, J., & Edmondson, J. (1983). Mercurialis perennis (dog’s mercury) poisoning: a case of mistaken identity. British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed.), 287(6409), 1924.
  8. "Medicinal herbs - Dogs Mercury Mercurialis perennis. (n.d.)". www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  9. "Mercurialis perennis, dog's mercury". www.thepoisongarden.co.uk.
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