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Mercurialis annua

Plants

Family: Euphorbiaceae · Genus: Mercurialis

Mercurialis annua

public_domain

About

Mercurialis annua, annual mercury, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, where it grows on bare, sandy soils. Its seeds are dispersed by harvester ants, which remove an oily coating that delays germination. In recent centuries, annual mercury has spread to northern Europe and many other parts of the world as an agricultural and urban weed. It has been studied for its complex genetics and breeding system. The name is from the Roman god Mercury, due to its association with fertility.

Summary from Wikipedia

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Growing details and traits for Mercurialis annua in the Library.

No cultivars in the Library yet — the full profile above covers the species itself.