HEDERA 607 



H. Helix have five to eight "rays." The ivy never flowers on the 

 creeping or climbing shoots, but produces bushy branches, mostly when 

 it has reached the top of its support ; these have no aerial roots, and their 

 leaves are never lobed, but are wavy in outline or entire at the margin, 

 and more narrowly ovate. Flowers produced in October, in a terminal 

 cluster of globose umbels, yellowish green. Berries dull inky black, 

 globose, about J in. across, containing two to five seeds. 



Native of Europe, found almost everywhere in Britain, especially in 

 shady spots, its natural habitat being the forest, where it can climb trees. 

 The ivy, however, is very adaptable, and can be grown in almost any 

 situation. No introduced evergreen climber can rival it for covering old 

 trees, buildings, etc. Many think that serious damage is done to trees 

 by allowing ivy to climb over them, but this, in my belief, only occurs 

 when the ivy has reached the leafy shoots; so long as the ivy is confined 

 to the trunk and larger branches no harm, I think, is done. At any rate, 

 I know trees in perfect health which have supported ivy for forty years. 

 An ivy-laden tree is one of the most beautiful objects of the winter 

 landscape. On buildings ivy is rather beneficial than otherwise, keeping 

 them dry and warm. 



Ivy is propagated with the greatest ease by means of cuttings which 

 may be given gentle heat if it is desirable to get them to root quickly, 

 or dibbled thickly under handlights or even in the open air. The more 

 delicate highly coloured varieties are sometimes grafted on the common 

 ivy, but need constant watching to prevent the stock over-running the 

 scion. One of the most useful purposes to which ivy can be put, is as 

 a ground-covering under trees where no grass will grow. It is also very 

 useful for covering iron-rail fencing, or posts and chains. As regards its 

 use on buildings it is capable of attaining at least 100 ft. in height. 

 Leaves of ivy are eaten by horses, cattle, and sheep apparently with 

 relish and without evil results. 



The number of varieties into which the common ivy has sported is 

 legion ; a great number have been given Latin names, cumbersome and 

 unnecessary, for they often differ from each other but little, and are very 

 apt with age (the coloured ones especially) to revert to the green type. 

 The older botanists made all the hardy ivies varieties of H. Helix, but 

 for garden purposes at least this is an undesirable arrangement, necessi- 

 tating an unwieldy nomenclature. The following is a representative 

 selection of what may be regarded as forms of H. Helix; others are 

 treated here as species. It may be mentioned that when cuttings of 

 the bushy, flowering state of the ivy are rooted, the plants retain that 

 adult habit, and become sturdy, rounded bushes that flower freely. The 

 varietal name "atborescens" is then added to the specific name, or to 

 that of any of the following varieties, to distinguish them from the 

 climbing condition. They are commonly termed " tree " ivies. 



Var. ARBORESCENS. Common Tree Ivy. The flowering shoots of common 

 ivy grown from cuttings, as just described ; there are both silver and golden 

 variegated forms of it. 



Var. CAVENDISHII. A striking variety, whose rather small, angularly 

 lobed leaves are edged with creamy white. 



