HEDERA HELIX

COMMON IVY

Climbing plant. This is a native species found along this path. Its outer layer gives off a rubbery resin with sterile and fertile branches. It features bright alternate leaves with between three and five lobes which are separated by internodes. They are petiolate leaves with dark green edges and slightly prominent green or white veins. The flowers are bunched in groups of between twelve and twenty. Its fruit are small, fleshy, greenish-black berries.

FUN FACT: In olden times, they used to hang bunches of ivy above the doors of houses where they used to make and serve wine to let passers by know that where they could buy some. This tradition originated from Greek mythology, as Dionysus, the god of wine, was depicted with a crown made from ivy leaves.