Definition

Noun: * A European perennial weedy plant (Mercurialis perennis) with small, greenish, inconspicuous flowers. It is a common woodland plant that spreads via rhizomes and is toxic to humans and livestock.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The forest floor was carpeted with dog's mercury.
  • Botanists study the spread of dog's mercury in ancient woodlands.
  • It's important to recognize dog's mercury as it is poisonous.

Advanced Usage

• The name "dog's mercury" uses "dog" in a derogatory sense (as in "dog violet") to indicate it is the common or inferior form compared to the annual "annual mercury" ().

Variants and Related Words

• Mercury (noun): Used in the common names of several plants in the genus .
• Annual mercury (noun): A related, but annual, species of the same genus.

Synonyms

• Mercurialis perennis (noun): The botanical Latin name.

Notes on Meaning

• This term refers specifically to a single species of plant. It is not related to the chemical element mercury.

Noun

1. European perennial weedy plant with greenish flowers