Mercurialis is a genus of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae, the spurges, known commonly as the mercuries. These are slender herbs (forbs), rhizomatious perennials and woody perennials, native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia.SpeciesMercurialis annua L. – most of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and islands of the eastern Atlantic Mercurialis canariensis Obbard & S.A.Harris – Canary Islands Mercurialis corsica Coss. & Kralik – Corsica, Sardinia Mercurialis elliptica Lam. – Spain, Portugal, Morocco Mercurialis huetii Hanry – Spain, France, Morocco Mercurialis leiocarpa Siebold & Zucc. – China, Japan, Korea, Ryukyu Islands, Thailand, Assam, Bhutan, Nepal Mercurialis × longifolia Lam. – Spain, Portugal, France (M. annua × M. tomentosa) Mercurialis ovata Sternb. & Hoppe – C + E Europe and SW Asia from Germany + Italy to Russia + Syria Mercurialis × paxii Graebn. – C + E Europe from Germany to Crimea (M. ovata × M. perennis) Mercurialis perennis L. – most of Europe plus Algeria, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran Mercurialis reverchonii Rouy – Spain, Morocco Mercurialis tomentosa L. – Spain, Portugal, France, Balearic Islandsformerly included