A vine growing over the fence south of the post office at Joppa and Bellona |
Close-up of the leaf, same vine, on the north or more shady side of the fence. |
Close-up of the fruit, same vine, mid December. |
This is not very mysterious. It is an ivy, I was just surprised that it is THE ivy. This will not be a surprise to gardeners, and means I was dozing in some 101 plant talk. I thought it might be a slightly different species. The mystery might be in the reason a plant would do this: have two forms of leaves depending on age and growing conditions. This is common or English ivy, just at a different stage. Here is a comparison with the more standard English ivy, smaller more geometric leaves. As far as age, the specimen below was taken from a bed that has been there for thirty years, perhaps not the same plants. It was growing at about the same height. The latin is Hedera helix.
One clue from the internet may be the fruit. The vast majority of illustrations are the common leaf unless there are fruit or berries, when you do see the larger heart shaped leaf.
The two leaf types together, smaller geometric leaf and the larger heart shaped leaf. |
Common leaf pattern from old bed, about the same height, facing west, higher elevation. |
Herbs are abundant. And each one has different benefits. Whichever option.
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