Botanical lore
Although ivy is not a tree in a commonly understood sense, it is the only member of its family of climbers (aralia) found in northern woodlands to carpet ground, trees, rocks or walls. Growing up to a height of seventy feet, it does not strangle its host tree (contrary, again, to the common understanding), however ivy does frequently block out the light from reaching its host tree. Able to live with minimal light, ivy may completely carpet ground in woodland, yet it does well on various soils or even simply minerals, such as old walls, and can live for hundreds of years.
With tiny rootlets that take hold of a tree surface, ivy shoots begin their
climb. These shoots have shiny, dark-green leaves, three or five-lobed, with
white veins. If used in decoctions, these leaves can cure ear and eye problems,
loosening mucus in sinusitis and bronchitis. Once established in a shady place,
a different form of ivy leaf and shoot appear, one that does not require to
climb and which grows instead the heart shaped, pointed leaves which can be
effective to the lower part of the human body, such as the spleen or on corns.
These larger leaves produce bunches of yellow green flowers which turn to black
berries in autumn, with three to five seeds to each berry. Although eaten by
birds, who distribute the seed, the berries are inedible to humans (and horses).
From early (Neolithic) times the leaves were used for animals, hence an old
german name of ep-heu, (heu being hay).
aralia family: araliaceae ivy (hedera helix)