''Hedera algeriensis'', the Algerian ivy, is a species of evergreen

ivy ''Hedera'', commonly called 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 ...

native to the North African coast, including coastal mountains in

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

.Verhaeghe, P. 2004. Clef des plantes sarmenteuses rustiques en Belgique. ''Taxonomania'' 11:1-26

Description

It is a vigorous, large evergreen climber, self-clinging by aerial roots. The stems are reddish, partly decorated with stellate hairs or scales, reddish-starred with about 15 rays. The leaves are alternate and simple. As in other ''Hedera'' species, the fertile branches have stiff stems with leaves having usually fewer lobes compared to the sterile (juvenile) stems. The main part of the leaf (the lamina) is oval-rhombic, 12–20 cm by 5–12 cm on flowering branches and coarsely toothed or slightly lobed (3-5 lobes) on the sterile stems. The inflorescence is a cluster of 13-15 pubescent flowers. Small flowers in umbels develop only on the fertile stems or branches. The plant contains the glycoside hederagenin, mostly in the leaves and berries, which could cause a mild toxicosis. If these parts are ingested it may cause severe discomfort, and handling plants may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction. The plant is rejected by herbivorous animals. Variegated cultivars of ''Hedera algeriensis'' are widely used in gardening. It naturalizes in mild climates and lowlands. The cultivar 'Ravensholst' has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

Ecology

It may be a noxious weed or be invasive. It requires consistently moist soil, but is more resistant to environmental dryness than most related species and can stand drought better than other ivies. It tolerates low temperatures better than island species of similar latitudes, such as '' Hedera canariensis'', ''

Hedera maderensis ''Hedera maderensis'', the Madeiran ivy, is a species of ivy (genus ''Hedera'') which is native to the Atlantic coast in Madeira island. It is a plant of botanical family ''Araliaceae'', species endemic to the island of Madeira with the name: ' ...

'', '' Hedera azorica'', or '' Hedera cypria''. It is native to the North African coast and coastal mountains where the climate is cooler and condensation provides a more humid habitat. It is frost sensitive at about the -2 °C winter isotherm but can become naturalised in mild climates. ''Hedera algeriensis'' arose from a common ancestor in the

cloud forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...

habitat in the

Mediterranean area In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin (; also known as the Mediterranean Region or sometimes Mediterranea) is the region of lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have mostly a Mediterranean climate, with mild to cool, rainy winters and wa ...

. The northern African ''Hedera'' and northeast Atlantic species of the genus ''Hedera'' are closely related species. Until recently it was thought there was a single species, ''Hedera helix'', but recent studies have shown that there are several species that differ mainly by microscopic details of the hairiness of the buds. ''

Hedera maroccana ''Hedera maroccana'', the Moroccan ivy, is a species of ivy (genus ''Hedera'') which is native to the Atlantic coast in northern Africa. It is an evergreen climbing plant, growing to 20–30 m high where suitable surfaces (trees, cliffs, walls) ...

'', '' Hedera iberica'', and '' Hedera canariensis'' are closely related.

Landscaping

''Hedera algeriensis'' has been cultivated in Britain since 1838. In Coastal

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

Algerian ivy is used as a ground cover on highway embankments to help control

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is distin ...

. Without irrigation it can be difficult to establish and maintain, and can hide underlying dead, dry material, which can be a fire hazard. The ivy groundcover provides cover, food and herbage for roof rats and snails.Olkowski W. et al. ''The Potential for Biological Control in Urban Areas.'' IV Biological Setting for Urban Pest Control. ''In:'' Perspectives in Urban Entomology, GW Frankie & CS Koehler, eds. Academic Press, 1978, page 321.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q12141126 algeriensis Flora of Africa Garden plants