56 FLOWERS OF THE WOODS AND COPSES 



which turn away from the light, of a rootlike character or holdfasts, 

 which assist it to climb. The young branches are green or purple. 



At the base the stem is thick, and may branch above in equal forks, 

 and then twine around the trunk or climb up the wall, with numerous 

 further branchings or ramifications. The leaves are undivided or 

 3-lobed, when the plant is merely Ground Ivy, or 5-lobed. This di- 

 morphism may be clue to the demand for light and air, the oval leaves 

 crowing round the stem in woods being an advantage, whilst the 

 divided leaves growing on the surface are arranged to fit into each 



Photo. B. Hanley 



IVY (Hedera Helix, L.) 



other and to cover as much space as possible. The flowering branches 

 also grow erect. In the climbing plant the leaf is oval, heart-shaped, 

 thick, entire in the flowering branches, with white or red veins. 



The flowers are in simple, erect, paniclecl, raceme-like umbels, more 

 or less rounded, with stellate hairs. The bracts are small and hollow. 

 The flower-stalks are fairly long. The flowers are yellowish-green. 

 The calyx-teeth are triangular, the calyx superior with 5 teeth. The 

 5 petals do not unite above, and are triangular to egg-shaped. There 

 are 5 stamens. The disc is swollen. The ovary is 5 -celled. The 

 styles are short, united at the base, with terminal stigmas. 



The berry is more or less round, black or yellow, 5-celled, 5-seeded, 

 crowned with the calyx. The seeds are egg-shapecl, 5 in a berry. 



The plant may be as much as 40 ft. high. The flowers are the 

 latest to bloom, i.e. in October and November. Ivy is an evergreen, 

 woody creeper, or climber, and may be increased by layers. 



