Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) (28/03/2022) Near Countryman Pub, Dial Post, Ashington, W Sussex. Flower at the top makes this a male plant (anthers here), The female flowers obviously don't have anthers! The blobby bits are unopened flower buds.
Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) (28/03/2022) Near Countryman Pub, Dial Post, Ashington, W Sussex. Annual Mercury instead is hairless and has less toothed leaves and grows singly - this Dog's Mercury grows in carpets.
Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) (28/03/2022) Near Countryman Pub, Dial Post, Ashington, W Sussex. Showing the hairyness of the plant - Annual Mercury instead is not hairy.
Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) (28/03/2022) Near Countryman Pub, Dial Post, Ashington, W Sussex.
Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) (28/03/2022) Near Countryman Pub, Dial Post, Ashington, W Sussex. A male flower.
Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) (28/03/2022) Near Countryman Pub, Dial Post, Ashington, W Sussex. This is what the anthers look like as they age, the yellow, ball-like coverings having dropped off.
Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) (28/03/2022) Near Countryman Pub, Dial Post, Ashington, W Sussex. A mixture of young anthers at the bottom, and older ones. The black ones are spent flowers.
Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) (28/03/2022) Near Countryman Pub, Dial Post, Ashington, W Sussex. Annual Mercury instead is hairless and has less toothed, hairless and shiiny leaves.
