Euphorbiaceae
Micrococca

Micrococca mercurialis (L.) Benth.

First published in W.J.Hooker, Niger Fl.: 503 (1849)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical & S. Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula, India to Peninsula Malaysia. It is an annual or subshrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Distribution

Native to:

Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Maldives, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, West Himalaya, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Hainan, South China Sea

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms

Heterotypic Synonyms

Classification

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Publications

POWO follows these authorities in accepting this name:

  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Barberá, P., Velayos, M. & Aedo, C. (2013). Annotated checklist and identification keys of the Acalyphoideae (Euphorbiaceae) of Equatorial Guinea (Annobón, Bioko and Río Muni). Phytotaxa 140: 1-25.
  • Boulvert, Y. (1977). Catalogue de la Flore de Centrafrique 2(1): 1-85. ORSTOM, Bangui.
  • Brunel, J.F., Hiepo, P. & Scholz, H. (eds.) (1984). Flore Analytique du Togo Phanérogames: 1-751. GTZ, Eschborn.
  • Calane da Silva, M., Izdine, S. & Amuse, A.B. (2004). A Preliminary Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Mozambique: 1-184. SABONET, Pretoria.
  • Caminho, J., Mutemba, L., Matusse, E., Osborne, J., Wursten, B., Burrows, J., Cianciullo, S., Malatesta, L. & Attorre, F. (2022). An updated checklist of Mozambique’s vascular plants. PhytoKeys 189: 61-80.
  • Catarino, L., Sampaio Martins, E., Pinto-Basto, M.F. & Diniz, M.A. (2006). Plantas Vasculares e Briófitos da Guiné-Bissau: 1-298. Instituto de investigação científica tropical, Instituto Português de apoio ao desenvolvimento.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Gosline, G., Bidault, E., van der Burgt, X., Cahen, D., Challen, G., Condé, N., Couch, C., Couvreur, T.L.P., Dagallier, L.M.J., Darbyshire, I., Dawson, S., Doré, T.S., Goyder, D., Grall, A., Haba, P., Haba, P., Harris, D., Hind, D.J.N., Jongkind, & al. (2023). A Taxonomically-verified and Vouchered Checklist of the Vascular Plants of the Republic of Guinea. Nature, scientific data 10, Article number: 327: [1]-[12].
  • 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.
  • Kotiya, A., Solanki, Y. & Reddy, G.V. (2020). Flora of Rajasthan: 1-769. Rajasthan state biodiversity board.
  • Lebrun, J.-P. (1998). Catalogue des plantes de la Mauritanie et du Sahara Occidental. Boissiera 55: 1-322.
  • Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo). Taxonomania. Revue de Taxonomie et de Nomenclature Botaniques 30: 1-307.
  • Pasha, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Sosef, M.S.M. & al. (2006). Check-list des plantes vasculaires du Gabon. Scripta Botanica Belgica 35: 1-438.
  • van Welzen, P.C. & Chayamarit, K. (2007). Flora of Thailand 8(2): 305-592. The Forest Herbarium, National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok.

An alternative taxonomy had been proposed by the following authorities:

  • Balakrishnan, N.P. & Chakrabarty, T. (2007). The family Euphorbiaceae in India. A synopsis of its profile, taxonomy and bibliography: 1-500. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun. [Cited as Claoxylon mercurialis.]

Flora of West Tropical Africa

  • Chev. Bot. 576.
  • Pax & K. Hoffm.Pax & K. Hoffm. in Engl. Pflanzenr. Euph. 7: 133, fig. 18, D–F
  • —F.T.A. 6, 1: 878

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Boulvert, Y. (1977). Catalogue de la Flore de Centrafrique 2(1): 1-85. ORSTOM, Bangui.
  • Catarino, L., Sampaio Martins, E., Pinto-Basto, M.F. & Diniz, M.A. (2006). Plantas Vasculares e Briófitos da Guiné-Bissau: 1-298. Instituto de investigação científica tropical, Instituto Português de apoio ao desenvolvimento.
  • Fosberg, F.R. (1957). The Maldive islands, Indian Ocean. Atoll Research Bulletin 58: 1-37.
  • Kotiya, A., Solanki, Y. & Reddy, G.V. (2020). Flora of Rajasthan: 1-769. Rajasthan state biodiversity board.
  • Lebrun, J.-P. (1998). Catalogue des plantes de la Mauritanie et du Sahara Occidental. Boissiera 55: 1-322.
  • Lebrun, J.-P., Audru, J., Gaston, A. & Mosnier, M. (1972). Catalogue des Plantes Vasculaires du Tchad Méridional: 1-289. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Lebrun, J.P., Toutain, B., Gaston, A. & Boudet, G. (1991). Catalogue des Plantes Vasculaires du Burkina Faso: 1-341. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Pasha, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Flora of Somalia

  • Flora Somalia, Vol 1, (1993) Author: by M. G. Gilbert [updated by M. Thulin 2008]

Kew Plants for Health

  • "UPWTA (Burkill, 2025)"
  • "World Checklist of Useful Pl. Spp. (Diazgranados et al., 2020)"
  • MPNS Import

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • A. Engler & O. Drude, Die Vegetation Der Erde, IX, Pflanzenwelt Afrikas 3(2): 76, t. 31 (1921).
  • A.D.Q. Agnew, Upland Kenya Wild Flowers p. 213 (1974).
  • Benth. in Hook., Niger Fl.: 503 (1849).
  • F. W. Andr., The Flowering Plants of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 2: 86 (1952).
  • F. White, Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia p. 201 (1962).
  • Keay, Flora of West Tropical Africa, ed. 2, 1: 402 (1958).
  • Pax in A. Engler, Das Pflanzenreich IV. 147(7): 133, fig. 18A-C (1914).
  • Pax in Die Pflanzenwelt Ost-Afrikas und der Nachbargebiete, Theile C: 238 (1895).
  • Prain in Flora of Tropical Africa 6(1): 878 (1912).
  • Robyns, Flore des Spermatophytes du Parc National Albert 1: 458 (1948).

Other Data

Other Kew resources that provide information on this taxon:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
May 1, 2002 Etuge, M. [1828] Cameroon K000026664 No
Lebrun, J.A. [8212] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K005045671 Yes
Phipps, J.B. [589] Zimbabwe K005045784 Yes
Letouzey, R. [6608] Cameroon K005045660 Yes
Gilbert, M.G.; Sebsebe, D.; K. Vollesen [8092] Ethiopia K005045688 Yes
Semsei, S.R. [3782] Tanzania K005045718 Yes
Lykke, A.M.; Jorgensen, A.; Ilbodou, J.B.; Goudiaby, A. [232] Senegal K005045625 Yes
[Denys Evehpre] [1093] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K005045678 Yes
Vaughan, J.H. [951] Tanzania K005045742 Yes
Maitland, T.D. [1157] Uganda K005045764 Yes
Wild, H.; Drummond, R.B. [6955] Botswana K005045791 Yes
Polhill, R.; Paulo, S. [1334] Tanzania K005045728 Yes
Bidgood, G.S.; Mbago, F.; Vollesen, K.B. [2272] Tanzania K005045735 Yes
Ejiofor, M.C. [29375] Cameroon K000181124 No
Vaughan, J.H. [1171] Tanzania K005045738 Yes
Wickens, G.E. [2061] Sudan K005045680 Yes
Smith, P.A. [2239] Botswana K005045792 Yes
Deighton, F.C. [2658] Sierra Leone K005045634 Yes
Fanshawe, D.B. [F690] Zambia K005045774 Yes
Friis, I.; Bidgood, S.; Malaku Wondefrash; Getu Tefera [9558] Ethiopia K005045684 Yes
Le Testu, G. [3064] K005045663 Yes
Melville, F.A.; Hooker, T. [439] Sierra Leone K005045635 Yes
Fay, J.M. [2734] Central African Republic K005045667 Yes
Scott, L. [s.n.] Malawi K005045772 Yes
Faulkner, H.G. [3142] Tanzania K005045741 Yes
de Wilde, J.J.F.E. [8138] Cameroon K005045662 Yes
Robinson, E.A. [3348] Zambia K005045776 Yes
Thulin, M.; Bashir, A.M. [6848] Somalia K005045692 Yes
Kelly, R.D. [364] Zimbabwe K005045789 Yes
Morton, J.K. [SL1379] Sierra Leone K005045636 Yes
[Ahmed]; [Chizea] [FHI20002] Nigeria K005045656 Yes
Morton, J.K. [s.n.] Ghana K005045646 Yes
Thomas, N.W. [1695] Sierra Leone K005045629 Yes
Philcox, D.; Leppard, M.J.; Dini, E. [8763] Zimbabwe K005045790 Yes
Deighton, F.C. [5800] Sierra Leone K005045628 Yes
Lisowski, S. [42973] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K005045677 Yes
Richards, H.M. (Mrs) [10895] Tanzania K005045721 Yes
Maitland, T.D. [32] Uganda K005045763 Yes
Dümmer, R. [1060] Uganda K005045762 Yes
Schweinfurth, G. [3997] Sudan K005045683 Yes
Anderson, B. [1023] Tanzania K005045732 Yes
Deighton, F.C. [1226] Sierra Leone K005045633 Yes
Thomas, N.W. [1874] Sierra Leone K005045631 Yes
Andoh, J.E. [4189] Ghana K005045642 Yes
Conrads (Father) [5609] Tanzania K005045726 Yes
Mckee, H.S. [8403] K005045622 Yes
Brown, E. [25] Uganda K005045760 Yes
R-Smith; Pope; Goyder [5744] Zambia K005045782 Yes
Maitland, T.D. [79] Uganda K005045761 Yes
Batty, M. (Mrs.) [345] Tanzania K005045720 Yes
Welw [394] Angola K005045793 Yes
Wild, H. [6033] Zimbabwe K005045788 Yes
Okafor, J.C. [FHI36872] Nigeria K005045657 Yes
Festo, L.; Luke, Q. [2487] Kenya K005045743 Yes
Fotius, G. [2178] Cameroon K005045659 Yes
Prince, S.D. [354] Zambia K005045780 Yes
Rutherford-Smith, R.O.B. [622] Zimbabwe K005045786 Yes
Humbert, H. [7696] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K005045668 Yes
Sebsebe, D. [1911] Ethiopia K005045689 Yes
Luke, W.R.Q.; Kabuye, C.; Festo, L.; Ntore, S. [17697] Uganda K001612525 Yes
Napier, E.R. [5357] Kenya K005045767 Yes
Linder, D.H. [1552] Liberia K005045638 Yes
{Mrs Taylor} [25/3] Tanzania K005045737 Yes
Luke, W.R.Q. [3338] Kenya K005045771 Yes
Bogdan, A. [3847] Kenya K005045766 Yes
Léonard, J.J.G. [1412] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K005045675 Yes
Bullock, A.A. [2475] Tanzania K005045722 Yes
Hall; Daramola; Ekwuno [FHI67406] Nigeria K005045648 Yes
s.coll. [122] Congo, Republic of the K005045674 Yes
Bidgood, G.S.; Lovett, J.; Paul, J.L.; Pocs, T. [212] Tanzania K005045733 Yes
Simpson, N.D. [7054] Sudan K005045681 Yes
[Lat Sliff] [S2219] Uganda K005045765 Yes
Faulkner, H.G. [2774] Tanzania K005045740 Yes
Morton, J.K. [A3234] Ghana K005045645 Yes
Stolz, A. [1207] Tanzania K005045727 Yes
Lisowski, S. [11711] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K005045676 Yes
Harris, B.J. [1689] Tanzania K005045719 Yes
Guerra, J.A. [3794] Guinea-Bissau K005045626 Yes
Michael Fay, J.; Doka, J. [s.n.] Central African Republic K005045664 Yes
Michael Fay, J.; Ngaindiro, S.; Jules, F.; Raymond, S.; Remy, N. [s.n.] Central African Republic K005045666 Yes
Michael Fay, J.; Ngaindiro, S.; Jules, F.; Raymond, S.; Remy, N. [s.n.] Central African Republic K005045665 Yes
Malchair, L. [139] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K005045672 Yes
Linder, D.H. [50] Liberia K005045637 Yes
Humbert, H. [7611] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K005045669 Yes
Dunlop, C.R. [4663] K005045623 Yes
Schlechter, F.R.R. [12394] Cameroon K000181125 No
Mutimushi, J.M. [301] Zambia K005045777 Yes
Batty, M. (Mrs.) [897] Tanzania K005045723 Yes
Drummond, R.B. [5437] Zimbabwe K005045785 Yes
Alstrup, V.; Michelsen, A. [90] Somalia K005045691 Yes
Robertson, S.A. (Mrs) [3320] Kenya K005045769 Yes
Luke, P.A.; Luke, W.R.Q. [8805] Tanzania K005045717 Yes
Adam, J.G. [25506] Liberia K005045640 Yes
Faulkner, H.G. [2166] Tanzania K005045724 Yes
Vaughan, J.H. [1560] Tanzania K005045739 Yes
Irvine, F.R. [4932] Ghana K005045643 Yes
Warnecke [187] Togo K005045647 Yes
Simpson, N.D. [7054] Sudan K005045682 Yes
Luke, W.R.Q.; Sidibe, O. [15759] Mali K005045624 Yes
Jordan, H.D. [49] Sierra Leone K005045627 Yes
Polhill, R.; Paulo, S. [1334] Tanzania K005045729 Yes
Onochie, C.F.A. [FHI31205] Nigeria K005045654 Yes
Mutimushi, J.M. [605] Zambia K005045778 Yes
Scott Elliot, G.F. [s.n.] Sierra Leone K005045632 Yes
Hildebrandt, J.M. [1038] K005045736 Yes
Thwaites, G.H.K. [3310] Sri Lanka K001094081 Unknown Type Material Yes
de Nevers, G.; Charnley, S. [3344] Tanzania K005045734 Yes
Dang, D. [121] Cameroon K005045661 Yes
Letouzey, R. [6886] Cameroon K005045658 Yes
Brummitt, R.K.; Polhill, R.M.; Banda, E.A. [16396] Malawi K005045773 Yes
Eagleton, G. [964] Somalia K005045690 Yes
Thollon, M. [s.n.] Gabon K005045673 Yes
Wild, H. [4094] Zimbabwe K005045783 Yes
Dalziel, J.M. [164] Nigeria K005045651 Yes
Fanshawe, D.B. [F811] Zambia K005045775 Yes
Luke [3024] Kenya K005045770 Yes
Wild, H. [5385] Zimbabwe K005045787 Yes
Polhill, R.; Paulo, S. [1334] Tanzania K005045730 Yes
Lebrun, J.A. [8212] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K005045670 Yes
Thomas, N.W. [1695] Sierra Leone K005045630 Yes
Gbile; Wit; Daramola [FHI64120] Nigeria K005045649 Yes
Parker, C. [E321] Ethiopia K005045686 Yes
Prince, S.D. [260] Zambia K005045779 Yes
Chisumpa, S.M. [132] Zambia K005045781 Yes
Gilbert, M.G.; Ensermu, K.; Vollesen, K.B. [7430] Ethiopia K005045687 Yes
Greenway, P.J.; Kanuri [14,204.] Tanzania K005045731 Yes
L.; H. [251] Nigeria K005045653 Yes
Drummond, R.B.; Hemsley, J.H. [4134] Kenya K005045768 Yes
Ahmed; Chizea [FHI20002] Nigeria K005045655 Yes
Dalziel, J.M. [785] Nigeria K005045652 Yes
Hall, J.B. [2329] Ghana K005045641 Yes
Thulin, M.; Hedrén, M.; Abdi, M.D. [7391] Somalia K005045693 Yes
Gilbert, M.G.; Getachew, A. [3083] Ethiopia K005045685 Yes
Yallah [119] Liberia K005045639 Yes
Hazel, C. [476] Uganda K005045758 Yes
Drummond, R.B.; Hemsley, J.H. [3682] Tanzania K005045725 Yes
Obeng-Darko, K. [5413] Ghana K005045644 Yes
Chandler, P. [567] Uganda K005045759 Yes

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • 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 2026. 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 2026. 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