#Hedera helix full

Despite the close relationship between Hedera helix and H. This hybrid was produced once in a garden in France in 1910 and never successfully repeated, the hybrid being maintained in cultivation by vegetative propagation. The only verified hybrid involving ivies is the intergeneric hybrid × Fatshedera lizei, a cross between Fatsia japonica and Hedera hibernica. Several additional species have been described in the southern parts of the former Soviet Union, but are not regarded as distinct by most botanists. The species of ivy are largely allopatric and closely related, and many have on occasion been treated as varieties or subspecies of H. Hedera hibernica (G.Kirchn.) Bean – Atlantic ivy (syn.Hedera rhombea (Miq.) Siebold ex Bean – Japanese ivy.Hedera pastuchovii G.Woronow – Pastuchov's ivy.Hedera nepalensis K.Koch – Himalayan ivy (syn.

Hedera maroccana McAllister – Moroccan ivy.

Hedera iberica (McAllister) Ackerfield & J.Wen – Iberian ivy.

Hedera cypria McAllister – Cyprus ivy (syn.

Hedera colchica (K.Koch) K.Koch – Persian ivy.

Hedera algeriensis Hibberd – Algerian ivy.

The following species are widely accepted they are divided into two main groups, depending on whether they have scale-like or stellate trichomes on the undersides of the leaves: It serves to increase the surface area and complexity of woodland environments.

Birds and small mammals also nest in ivy. The leaves are eaten by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera such as angle shades, lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing, scalloped hazel, small angle shades, small dusty wave (which feeds exclusively on ivy), swallow-tailed moth and willow beauty.Ī very wide range of invertebrates shelter and overwinter in the dense woody tangle of ivy. The fruit are eaten by a range of birds, including thrushes, blackcaps, and woodpigeons. The ivy bee Colletes hederae is completely dependent on ivy flowers, timing its entire life cycle around ivy flowering. Ivies are of major ecological importance for their nectar and fruit production, both produced at times of the year when few other nectar or fruit sources are available. They invade disturbed forest areas in North America. Ivies are natives of Eurasia and North Africa but have been introduced to North America and Australia. The basic diploid number is 48, while some are tetraploid with 96, and others hexaploid with 144 and octaploid with 192 chromosomes. The chromosome number also differs between species. The species differ in detail of the leaf shape and size (particularly of the juvenile leaves) and in the structure of the leaf trichomes, and also in the size and, to a lesser extent, the colour of the flowers and fruit. The seeds are dispersed by birds which eat the berries. The fruit is a greenish-black, dark purple or (rarely) yellow berry 5–10 mm diameter with one to five seeds, ripening in late winter to mid-spring.

The flowers are greenish-yellow with five small petals they are produced in umbels in autumn to early winter and are very rich in nectar. The juvenile and adult shoots also differ, the former being slender, flexible and scrambling or climbing with small aerial roots to affix the shoot to the substrate (rock or tree bark), the latter thicker, self-supporting and without roots.

#Hedera helix full

Ivies have two leaf types, with palmately lobed juvenile leaves on creeping and climbing stems and unlobed cordate adult leaves on fertile flowering stems exposed to full sun, usually high in the crowns of trees or the tops of rock faces, from 2 m or more above ground. On level ground they remain creeping, not exceeding 5–20 cm height, but on suitable surfaces for climbing, including trees, natural rock outcrops or man-made structures such as quarry rock faces or built masonry and wooden structures, they can climb to at least 30 m above the ground. Hedera helix adult leaves and unripe berries in Ayrshire, Scotland