Euphorbiaceae
Mercurialis

Mercurialis annua L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 1035 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Macaronesia, Europe, Medit. to Arabian Peninsula. It is an annual and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Distribution

Native to:

Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Central European Russia, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Gulf States, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Romania, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Selvagens, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine

Introduced into:

Alabama, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Ascension, Bahamas, Baltic States, Bermuda, California, Cape Provinces, Denmark, Eritrea, Falkland Is., Great Britain, Haiti, Ireland, Jamaica, Maryland, Mexico Central, Netherlands, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Northwest European Russia, Poland, St.Helena

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms

Heterotypic Synonyms

Classification

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Publications

POWO follows these authorities in accepting this name:

  • Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.
  • Danin, A. & Fragman- Sapir, O. (2019). Flora of Israel Online http://flora.org.il/en/plants/.
  • Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2011). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 3: 1-449. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Edwards, S., Tadesse, M. & Hedberg, I. (eds.) (1995). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 2(2): 1-456. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2016). Flora of North America North of Mexico 12: 1-603. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
  • Govaerts, R., Frodin, D.G. & Radcliffe-Smith, A. (2000). World Checklist and Bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (and Pandaceae) 1-4: 1-1622. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Hassler, M. & Muer, T. (2022). Flora Germanica: alle Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Deutschlands in Text und Bild 1: 1-864. Verlag Regionalkultur, Uberstadt-Weiher.
  • Knapp, W.M. & Naczi, R.F.C. (2021). Vascular plants of Maryland, USA. A comprehensive account of the state's botanical diversity. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 113: 1-151.
  • Kral, R., Diamond, A.R., Ginzbarg, S.L., Hansen, C.J., Haynes, R.R., Keener, B.R., Lelong, M.G., Spaulding, D.D. & Woods, M. (2011). Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Alabama: 1-112. Botanical reseach institute of Texas.
  • Mirek, Z., Piękoś-Mirkowa, H., Zając, A. & Zając, M (2020). Vascular plants of Poland an annotated checklist: 1-526. W. Szafer institute of botany, Polish academy of sciences, Krakow, Poland.
  • Muer, T., Sauerbier, H. & Cabrara Calixto, F. (2020). Die Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Madeiras: 1-792. Verlag und Versandbuchhandlung Andreas Kleinsteuber.
  • Schäfer, H. (2021). Flora of the Azores a field guide: 1-445. Margraf Publishers GmbH.
  • Stalažs, A. (2024). List of vascular plants of Latvia (with Latvian names): 1-312. Dobele.
  • Takhtajan, A.L. (ed.) (2012). Takhtajan, A.L. (ed.). Konspekt Flora Kavkaza 3(2): 1-623. Editio Universitatis Petropolitanae.
  • Webb, C.J., Sykes, W.R & Garnock-Jones, P.J. (1988). Flora of New Zealand 4: 1-1365. R.E.Owen, Government Printer, Wellington.
  • Werier, D. (2017). Catalogue of the Vascular plants of New York state. Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club 27: 1-542. New York Botanical Garden.
  • Zuloaga, F.O., Zanotti, C.A. & Moroni, P.D. (eds.) (2024). Flora Argentina. Flora vascular de la República Argentina 10: 1-251. INTA, IMBIV & IBODA.

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • (2020). https://bsbi.org/archaeophytes. epublication.
  • (2021). https://moip-bio.msu.ru/wp-content/uploads/belehov-bulletin-of-moscow-society-of-naturalists-126-3-2021.25-26.pdf. epublication.
  • Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.
  • Britton, N. (1918). Flora of Bermuda: 1-585. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.
  • Brown, L.C. (1982). The Flora and Fauna of St Helena: 1-88. Land Resources Development Centre, Surbiton, England.
  • Danin, A. & Fragman- Sapir, O. (2019). Flora of Israel Online http://flora.org.il/en/plants/.
  • Edwards, S., Tadesse, M. & Hedberg, I. (eds.) (1995). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 2(2): 1-456. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Hassler, M. (2012). Flora of Rhodes. Systematic list of flora of Rhodes http://www.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/~db111/flora/rhodos/list.php.
  • Knapp, W.M. & Naczi, R.F.C. (2021). Vascular plants of Maryland, USA. A comprehensive account of the state's botanical diversity. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 113: 1-151.
  • Kral, R., Diamond, A.R., Ginzbarg, S.L., Hansen, C.J., Haynes, R.R., Keener, B.R., Lelong, M.G., Spaulding, D.D. & Woods, M. (2011). Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Alabama: 1-112. Botanical reseach institute of Texas.
  • Mirek, Z., Piękoś-Mirkowa, H., Zając, A. & Zając, M (2020). Vascular plants of Poland an annotated checklist: 1-526. W. Szafer institute of botany, Polish academy of sciences, Krakow, Poland.
  • Packer, J.E. (1974). Ascension Handbook. A concise guide to Ascension Island South Atlantic ed. 2 Packer, Georgetown.
  • Stalažs, A. (2024). List of vascular plants of Latvia (with Latvian names): 1-312. Dobele.
  • Takhtajan, A.L. (ed.) (2012). Takhtajan, A.L. (ed.). Konspekt Flora Kavkaza 3(2): 1-623. Editio Universitatis Petropolitanae.
  • Webb, C.J., Sykes, W.R & Garnock-Jones, P.J. (1988). Flora of New Zealand 4: 1-1365. R.E.Owen, Government Printer, Wellington.
  • Werier, D. (2017). Catalogue of the Vascular plants of New York state. Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club 27: 1-542. New York Botanical Garden.
  • Zuloaga, F.O., Zanotti, C.A. & Moroni, P.D. (eds.) (2024). Flora Argentina. Flora vascular de la República Argentina 10: 1-251. INTA, IMBIV & IBODA.

Other Data

Other Kew resources that provide information on this taxon:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Sep 1, 2020 Christenhusz, M.J.M. [MC9051] United Kingdom K001400697 Yes
Aug 1, 2020 Christenhusz, M.J.M. [MC9051] United Kingdom K001400696 Yes
Cook, A.G. [121] K005045112 Yes
Metcalfe, E. [s.n.] K005045131 Yes
Dickson, Z. [54] United Kingdom K005045136 Yes
Newbould, W.W. [s.n.] K005045142 Yes
Hubbard, C.E. [s.n.] United Kingdom K005045138 Yes
Browning, R. [50] K005045110 Yes
Jackson, A.B.; Jackson, A.K. [117bis] K005045122 Yes
Ballard, F.; Golby, E.A. [88] K005045134 Yes
Ekman, E.L. [3136] Haiti K000716394 Yes
Devis, H.F. [s.n.] K005045113 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] Jersey K005045124 Yes
Gamble, J.S. [29327] K005045130 Yes
Ballard, F.; Golby, E.A. [264] K005045115 Yes
Lousley, J.E. [B108] K005045132 Yes
Taylor, P. [0232] K005045125 Yes
s.coll. [11841] K005045140 Yes
Townsend, C.C. [s.n.] K005045126 Yes
Tatum, E.J. [1262] K005045144 Yes
Fraser, J. [s.n.] K005045143 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] United Kingdom K005045149 Yes
Lousley, J.E. [s.n.] K005045127 Yes
Darwell, L. [s.n.] K005045119 Yes
Verdcourt, B. [5545] United Kingdom K005045148 Yes
Ballard, F.; Golby, E.A. [53] K005045133 Yes
Jakcson, A.B.; Jackson, A.K. [117] K005045121 Yes
Gamble, J.S. [30470] United Kingdom K005045111 Yes
Ballard, F. [418] K005045146 Yes
Cope, T.A. [RBG 16] United Kingdom K000914250 Yes
E.J.T. [1262] K005045145 Yes
Cope, T.A. [RBG 104] United Kingdom K000914251 Yes
Ballard, F.; Golby, E.A. [53] K005045117 Yes
Townsend, C.C. [s.n.] United Kingdom K005045123 Yes
Hill, R.S. [1863] K005045139 Yes
Wade, A.E.; Britton, C.E. [s.n.] K005045120 Yes
Evans, H.A. [s.n.] K005045135 Yes
Fraser, G.T. [H7991936] K005045137 Yes
{Miss E.M. Harvey} [H2533] K005045141 Yes
Butler, S.C. [54] United Kingdom K000716158 Yes
Gamble, J.S. [20224] United Kingdom K005045129 Yes
Ballard, F.; Ballard, E. [468] K005045118 Yes
Horwood, A.R. [s.n.] United Kingdom K005045150 Yes
Clarke, C.B. [32889] K005045116 Yes
Melville, R. [151] K005045147 Yes
Bullock, A.A. [s.n.] United Kingdom K005045151 Yes
Hill, A.W. [s.n.] K005045114 Yes

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images