BRITISH KVKRQUEENR. 



Ill 



Hedera Helix Canariensis. — This is the Giant or Irish Ivy, and the Hedera 

 Canariensis of Willo. A native of the Canary Islands, but 

 when introduced into Britain is quite uncertain. Of varieties 

 of H. Canariensis there exist the following: — 



" " Canariensis hora. — A small palm-leaved variety, with the veins 



of the leaves white — rather slender in growth. 



'( " Canariensis variegata. — This is the common variegated Irish Ivy, 



one half of the leaves are yellowish, and the other quite green. 



" " chrysocarpa of Dec; H. Poeticus, C. Bacch.; H. chrysocarpus, 



Dalech.; H. Dionysis, J. Bacch.; H. Helix, Wall. This variety 

 differs from those already described in having yellow berries, 

 and being of a stronger growth. Virgil speaks of a white- 

 berried Ivy; but Tournefort considers it was our present 

 subject, and says, "that it is not surprising that the Bacchantes 

 should formerly have made use of these, the H. H. chrysocarpa, 

 to adorn their heads, since all Thrace is covered with this 

 plant."— Vol, ii. page 24G. 



" " Raegneriana. — -This is a distinct and new variety; its foliage is 



totally unlike that of any other Ivy. The leaves are entire, 

 and of great thickness, while a peculiar gloss unmistakeably 

 distinguishes it from all the others. This valuable Ivy should 

 be cultivated in preference to any other. 



*' '' Taurica. — This pretty Ivy is of an opposite character to the 



last, having the foliage small and compact. 



*' " digitata or palmata. — The palm or hand- shaped leaved Ivy. The 



foliage of this variety resembles the human hand, hence its 

 name. All the leaves have not this character, but as the 

 plant advances in age it is more observable. It is a pretty 

 and distinct variety. 



" " foliis argenteis. — Silver-striped Ivy. Rather a delicate grower 



when compared with the others; the leaves are margined with 

 white, edged with pink. 



" " foliis aureis. — Gold-striped Ivy. This is a larger foliaged, and 



more robust grower than the last; it is also known in the 

 nurseries and gardens as Pontey's Golden-blotched Ivy. 



" " arborescens. — Tree Iv}'. This is nothing more than the flowering 



shoots of the Hedera Helia cut off and rooted, and grown 



as a separate plant, forming an upright bush or small tree, 



which character it retains for some years, but it soon resumes 



its native habit, and throws out creeping shoots like the 



Common Ivy. 



Having enumerated all the species and varieties of Hedera Helix, we must 



now conclude our description of this ^^rare old plant," and, in the words of 



the Village Minstrel, Clare, say — 



VOL. IV. Q 



