Annual Mercury (Mercurialis annua)

I am reluctant to use the term 'boring' for any aspect of nature as everything really is special and unique but, in trying to write notes about Annual Mercury boring is about the only word I can come up with!

A fairly non-decript flower to look at, it grows on nutriant rich soils in arable fields, gardens and waste ground in mid to late summer and can eaily be easily overlooked. However, whilst common in south east England it does not appear elsewhere in Britain so in Dorset it is right on the edge of its range and so is quite 'rare'. I used to find it a lot in Hampshire but since moving to Dorset I have seen it, to date, just once. May be it is not so boring after all!

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