Mercurialis perennis
Dog's mercury
Mercurialis perennis, commonly known as dog's mercury, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe. Often forming lush, green carpets in shaded woodlands, it holds a significant place in traditional herbalism. While historically used for various medicinal purposes, it requires cautious handling due to its potent chemical properties.
- Scientific name: Mercurialis perennis
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Mercurialis perennis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, following the order Malpighiales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae within the genus Mercurialis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Mercurialis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Mercurialis perennis, is referred to by various names depending on the region and language. In Poland, it is called Szczyr trwały, while in Russia, it is known as Пролесник многолетний. The French name for this species is Mercuriale vivace, and in Finland, it is called lehtosinijuuri. Additionally, in German-speaking areas, it is commonly identified as Wald-Bingelkraut.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Szczyr trwały | Wikidata |
| ru | Пролесник многолетний | Wikidata |
| fr | Mercuriale vivace | Wikidata |
| fi | lehtosinijuuri | Wikidata |
| de | Wald-Bingelkraut | Wikidata |
| sl | trpežni golšec | Wikidata |
| cs | bažanka vytrvalá | Wikidata |
| lt | Daugiametis laiškenis | Wikidata |
| hsb | Trajacy šćěr | Wikidata |
| da | Almindelig Bingelurt | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Mercurialis perennis, exhibits a specific distribution across several northern European regions. It can be found growing naturally throughout the territories of Denmark and Finland. Its presence is also well-documented across the island of Ireland. Furthermore, the species is distributed across Great Britain. Finally, the plant's range extends into the mountainous and coastal landscapes of Norway.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Chemicals
Mercurialis perennis has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-trans-myrtanol, (-)-cis-myrtanol, 2-phenylethanol, 3,4-dimethoxyphenol, 4-methoxy-1-methylpyridine-2,6(1H,3H)-dione.
- Total chemicals
- 21
- Scientific sources
- 21
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (+)-trans-myrtanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-cis-myrtanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-phenylethanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,4-dimethoxyphenol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-methoxy-1-methylpyridine-2,6(1H,3H)-dione | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-methoxyphenol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| benzylalcohol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| carotenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hermidin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linoleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Mercurialis perennis has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Mercurialis perennis has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidiabetic, antihypertensive.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |