Ivy

-Botanical

Latin name: Hedera
Ivy is a plant which has along its branches numerous crampons, to climb up walls. Its leaves are persistent. This specie come from Europe and Minor Asia, but today it's in all continents. It has little flowers which produce an abundant nectar, a threat for bees. Fruits are black berries, containing 3 or 5 seeds.
In the wild, this plant likes to grow in humid areas, most of time in forests, because it can climb up the trees, to find the sun. It can grow until 30 meters long and 25 meters high.

-Customs, Legends and Mythology

Gaelic name: Gort
Month: September
Color: Sky blue
Letter in the Ogham: G
Meaning: Take time to soul search or you will make a wrong decision

Ivy symbolizes the persistence of the vegetation's strength, and desire.
It's very often associated with Vine. Indeed, Ivy and Vine are the two attributes to Dionysus in Greek Mythology. This God used Ivy, punishing women who didn't want to recognize his cult.
In other culture, Ivy is implicated in future's predictions.
And also in Greek culture, people used to drink their wine when some Ivy's leaves had soaked in, because they thought it was a protection against poisons.

-Healing

Ivy's fruits contain a toxic product, but they were used in the past to elaborate numerous medications.
In external use, these healing properties are admitted. It's also very efficient to cure respiratory troubles.
But this plant is not very used today, because scientist found that a repeated used can create strong skin allergies. And some of anti-cellulite preparations contain Ivy, but their efficiency is still not prove.

-Physical uses

The wood of this plant is not strong, and can't be kept during a long time, so it's not used at all. We can find it in gardens, and it's its most interest: decorating. If you have time, you can also try to create your own dish washing liquid, making boiling 100 grams of Ivy with water. The juice obtaining after squeezing can be used.