European Ivy

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• English ivy
• Ivy
• Common Ivy

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Apiales and the family Araliaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Hedera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. It is commonly found throughout the various landscapes of Great Britain and Ireland. The species also thrives within the territories of Denmark and Sweden. Furthermore, its presence extends northward into the coastal and forest areas of Norway. Consequently, these five nations represent a significant portion of its northern geographical range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hedera helix is characterized by its presence in diverse woodland environments, primarily thriving within forest and mountain ecosystems. It demonstrates a remarkable ability to adapt to various microclimates within these regions, ranging from shaded understories to more exposed rocky terrains. This species exhibits a significant vertical distribution, with its elevational range reaching a mean of approximately 2700 m AMSL, allowing it to occupy high-altitude niches where it can utilize vertical structures for growth. Its ecological role is defined by its climbing habit, which integrates it into the complex architecture of its habitat, contributing to the structural diversity of the forest floor and canopy interfaces.

Elevational range mean:

2700 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains

Genetics

The genetics of Hedera helix are characterized by a complex chromosomal structure that reflects its evolutionary history and polyploid nature. The plant exhibits significant variation in its karyotype, with documented chromosome numbers including 43, 48, and 96. This variability suggests a history of genome duplication events, which contribute to the species' adaptability and morphological diversity. Such polyploidy plays a crucial role in the genetic architecture of the species, influencing its phenotypic plasticity and its ability to thrive in diverse ecological niches.

Chromosome number :

43, 48, 96

Life history

The life history of Hedera helix is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it exhibits a growth habit where its buds are borne on aerial shoots, often climbing or sprawling across various substrates. The plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present throughout the year, providing continuous photosynthetic capacity. This combination of a long-lived perennial nature and a robust phanerophyte life form enables it to establish a stable and enduring presence within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hedera helix is characterized by a versatile growth habit that can manifest as both a shrub and a herb. As a woody, terrestrial plant, it functions as an obligatory liana with a scandent shoot orientation, allowing it to climb effectively. Its height is highly variable depending on its environment and growth stage, ranging from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 30 m, with an average plant height of approximately 6.925 m. While it grows in terrestrial habitats rather than aquatic or semiaquatic environments, its climbing nature is distinct, as it is an independent species and not a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

6.925 m

Plant height min:

0.03 m

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hedera helix is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, as it does not possess the mechanisms to capture prey and is not a nitrogen fixer. Its leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 11 cm, while leaf widths fluctuate between 3 cm and 10 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 9 cm. The average leaf size is recorded at 17.36533 cm², and the leaves typically display a lanceolate form. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 117.73 cm²/g, reflecting its physiological investment in leaf tissue density and surface area for light interception.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf length max:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

17.36533 cm²

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

117.73 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hedera helix is driven by a sexual process, as both asexual reproduction and self-fertilization are noted to be absent. The plant produces green flowers arranged in an umbel inflorescence, with individual flowers measuring between 0.28 cm and 0.35 cm in length. The flowering period typically begins in September and extends through December. Pollination is a biotic process primarily facilitated by insects, specifically bees. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy, indehiscent fruits categorized as berries. These berries are black in color and typically measure approximately 0.7 cm in both mean length and width, though they can reach a maximum dimension of 0.8 cm in length and width, with a minimum width of 0.75 cm. The seeds contained within the fruit have a consistent length of 5.7 mm and a seed volume of 16 mm³. The seed mass varies, with a mean of approximately 0.0403 g, a minimum of 0.01549 g, and a maximum of 0.03165 g. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically endozoochory, meaning the seeds are dispersed via the internal passage of animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

0.35 cm

Flower length min:

0.28 cm

Flowering time :

Sep

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit width min:

0.75 cm

Inflorescence :

umbel

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

5.7 mm

Seed mass max:

0.03165 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0402986666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.01549 g

Seed volume max:

16 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hedera helix has 1 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Planta medica
2. Advances in experimental medicine and biology
3. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Chemicals

Hedera helix has 44 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hederacoside C, Hederagenin, alpha-Hederin, OLEANOLIC ACID, CHLOROGENIC ACID.

Hederacoside C

1. Microbial pathogenesis
2. Advances in experimental medicine and biology
3. Archiv der Pharmazie
4. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
5. Cells

Hederagenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archiv der Pharmazie
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
5. Planta medica

alpha-Hederin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archiv der Pharmazie
3. Die Pharmazie
4. Planta medica
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archiv der Pharmazie
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Turkish journal of biology = Turk biyoloji dergisi

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon

Saponins

1. Archiv der Pharmazie
2. Planta medica

beta-Hederin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Planta medica

BETA-ELEMENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Hedera helix has 263 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antispasmodic, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant.

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Advances in experimental medicine and biology
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Planta medica

Antimicrobial

1. Advances in experimental medicine and biology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Heliyon

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Advances in experimental medicine and biology

Cytoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Secretolytic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Hedera helix has 20 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cough, respiratory diseases, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Leishmania mexicana.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations