The Hedera

Hedera known by the English name ivy is a genus of 15 species of climbing or ground-creeping evergreen woody plants in the family Araliaceae. On suitable surfaces (trees and rock faces), they are able to climb to at least 25–30 meters above the basal ground level.

True ivy must not be confused with Boston Ivy and to a lesser extent Virginia creeper, both of which are climbers which can grow up buildings, but which are deciduous rather than evergreen, and are quite unrelated to true ivy, both being of the grape family.

Although far less toxic than poison ivy, which is unrelated to this genus, ivy contains triterpenoid saponins and falcarinol, a polyyne. Falcarinol is capable of inducing an allergic reaction, although it has been shown to kill breast cancer cells as well.