About Hedera maderensis K.Koch ex A.Rutherf.
Hedera maderensis, commonly called Madeiran ivy, is a species of ivy in the genus Hedera and the botanical family Araliaceae. This species is endemic to Madeira island, native to the island’s Atlantic coast, where it is quite common. It grows on rocky slopes, soil, and tree trunks, especially in Barbusano laurel forest. Formerly, a population from the western Iberian Peninsula was classified as the subspecies Hedera maderensis iberica, but this taxon has since been reclassified as a separate distinct species. Hedera maderensis is an evergreen perennial climbing shrub, that grows as ground cover when no vertical surfaces are available, and reaches 20–30 meters high when growing on suitable vertical surfaces such as trees, cliffs, and walls. It climbs using aerial rootlets that cling to its growing substrate. Stems are green or greenish-brown, sometimes tinged with red or purple. It produces broad, slightly leathery leaves that measure 2 to 8.5 inches, with 1 to 5 small lobes that are regular in size and shape. Its small greenish-yellow flowers are borne in large umbels, and it produces globular fruits that turn black when ripe. It flowers from April to December. Over time, it has been cultivated in gardens and used in floral arrangements.
