Hedera cypria
Encyclopedia
Hedera cypria, is a species of Ivy
(genus Hedera) which is native to the Mediterranean sea in Cyprus
island. It is a plant
of botanical family
Araliaceae
, a species endemic to the island of Cyprus
with the name: Hedera cypria (McAll., Plantsman). Formerly named Hedera pastuchovi cypria.
It is an evergreen
climbing plant, growing slowly to 20–30 m high where suitable surfaces (tree
s, cliff
s, wall
s) are available, and also growing as ground cover where there are no vertical surfaces. It climbs by means of aerial rootlets which cling to the substrate.It is more common at higher altitudes in rocky, shadowy riverine forest, over 400-650 m. In its natural habitat can be distinguished easily from Hedera helix, also present on the Cyprus
island because the race of Hedera helix (H. helix subsp. poetarum) has yellow fruits, while Hedera cypria is always black-fruited.
The Hedera cypria does not resemble any other Ivy into such a unique white patterns conspicuous grey veining, red stemmed. It is an attractive robust plant, growing slowly. It have alternate and small to medium ovate leaves, with a long petiole
; there are two types of leaves, palmately five-lobed juvenile leaves on creeping and climbing stems, and unlobed lauroide adult leaves on fertile flowering stems. In this species, the juvenile leaves are almost unlobed with a isosceles triangle shape, and the green leave is blotched with a grid of leaf-nerves greenish-yellow to grey.
H. cypria is closely related to Hedera pastuchowii
. Hedera cypria is found on the island of Cypria and H. pastuchowii is distributed in close proximity in Iran, Caucasus and Transcaucassus. The DNA analysis confirmed that they are not strongly separated but they must to be separated into distinct species, due largely to genetic differences that occur between other traits in the presence of distinct white markings over the veins in its young leaves as compared to less distinct white markings in young H. pastuchowii leaves, coupled with greater vigour in H. cypria plants.
Ivy
Ivy, plural ivies is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.-Description:On level ground they...
(genus Hedera) which is native to the Mediterranean sea in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
island. It is a plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
of botanical family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
Araliaceae
Araliaceae
Araliaceae is a family of flowering plants, also known as the Aralia family or Ivy family. The family includes 254 species of trees, shrubs, lianas and perennial herbaceous plants into 2 subfamilies...
, a species endemic to the island of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
with the name: Hedera cypria (McAll., Plantsman). Formerly named Hedera pastuchovi cypria.
It is an evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
climbing plant, growing slowly to 20–30 m high where suitable surfaces (tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s, cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
s, wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
s) are available, and also growing as ground cover where there are no vertical surfaces. It climbs by means of aerial rootlets which cling to the substrate.It is more common at higher altitudes in rocky, shadowy riverine forest, over 400-650 m. In its natural habitat can be distinguished easily from Hedera helix, also present on the Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
island because the race of Hedera helix (H. helix subsp. poetarum) has yellow fruits, while Hedera cypria is always black-fruited.
The Hedera cypria does not resemble any other Ivy into such a unique white patterns conspicuous grey veining, red stemmed. It is an attractive robust plant, growing slowly. It have alternate and small to medium ovate leaves, with a long petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
; there are two types of leaves, palmately five-lobed juvenile leaves on creeping and climbing stems, and unlobed lauroide adult leaves on fertile flowering stems. In this species, the juvenile leaves are almost unlobed with a isosceles triangle shape, and the green leave is blotched with a grid of leaf-nerves greenish-yellow to grey.
H. cypria is closely related to Hedera pastuchowii
Hedera pastuchowii
Hedera pastuchowii, is a species of Ivy which is native from Eastern Transcaucasus. It is a plant of botanical family Araliaceae. It is in The Red Book of Azerbaijan SSR, 1989....
. Hedera cypria is found on the island of Cypria and H. pastuchowii is distributed in close proximity in Iran, Caucasus and Transcaucassus. The DNA analysis confirmed that they are not strongly separated but they must to be separated into distinct species, due largely to genetic differences that occur between other traits in the presence of distinct white markings over the veins in its young leaves as compared to less distinct white markings in young H. pastuchowii leaves, coupled with greater vigour in H. cypria plants.