

C)tllCia l)clii'. Natural Order: Ara/iacdc — Ginseng Family. 



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\ Y is an evergreen vine, native of Great Britain, and attains 

 the lieight of forty or fifty feet, sustaining itself by tults of 

 libers, which insert themselves into the crevices of the walls 

 that support it. Hedera is its old Latin name, and helix in 

 Greek and Latin signifies twisted. After having grown to its 

 utmost height, its climbing character ceases, " the leaf changes 

 iioin <i pcJmate to a lengthened oval shape; it then forms a bush two 

 oi thiee feet high, surmounted by an abundance of branches of inter- 

 tstmg gicenish flowers" that bloom in October. They frequently attain 

 a gieat age. One is mentioned by De Candolle as being four hundred 

 and thiit} -three years old, which measured six feet in circumference at 

 the base, covering a surface of over seventy square yards with its hand- 

 some foliage. It was used among the Greeks to decorate their heroes and 

 poets, and also as a crown to Bacchus, although he is represented at other 

 times crowned with grape leaves as the god of wine. 



QHE clung to him with woman's love, 

 ^ Like ivy to the oak, 

 While on his he.-id, with crushing force. 

 Earth's chilling tempest broke. 



T^AST he stealeth on, though he wears no wings. 



And a staunch old heart has he! 

 How closely he tvvineth, how tight he clings 



To his iricnd, the huge oak tree! 

 And slily he trailcth along the ground. 



And his leaves he gently waves. 

 And he joyously twines and hugs around 

 The rich mould ot" dead men's graves, 



Creeping where n 

 A rare old plant 



ife is seen, 



T HAD a 



A I was 1 



friend th: 



he liv'd not but in me; 

 We were so close within each other's breast 

 The rivets were not found that join'd us first. 

 —Dryo 



'74 



