Investigating the Abiotic Factors that Affect the Size of Ivy Leaves in Shaded and Unshaded Habitats

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Investigating the Abiotic Factors that Affect the Size of Ivy Leaves in Shaded and Unshaded Habitats

Introduction

Ivy is any one of a large number of creeping or climbing vines. These

vines have different botanical names, and the word ivy, as commonly

used, does not belong to any one plant. It often applies to climbing

vines, especially to those that are ornamental. The particular one

being looked at in this experiment is the common, or English, ivy.

English ivy is the plant that makes such an attractive picture as it

climbs over walls and tree trunks in Europe and North America. Its

waxy leaves usually have five points, or angles. They are dark green

in summer and turn bright scarlet in the fall. The plant retains its

leaves all year. English ivy also bears tiny flowers. This ivy

clings to smooth surfaces with the fine roots on its stems. It does

not grow well in the bright sun of the central, southern, and western

United States. But in shady locations, it can be grown as far north

as Ontario, Canada. It makes an excellent covering for buildings.

Its leaves and berries are poisonous. English ivy belongs to the

ginseng family, Araliaceae. The scientific classification would be

Hedera helix.

Being an evergreen plant it has the advantage of being able to

photosynthesis during the winter months whereas deciduous trees are

dormant. The increased light that is available, by the absence of

deciduous leaves allow it to grow more rapidly up the trunk of the

host tree. The evergreen leaves of the plant also inhibit the leaves

of the deciduous tree thereby suppressing the growth of the host tree.

The increased openness of the tree crown further stimulates the growth

of the vine. As the ivy climbs up the host tree to reach the canopy,

the density of the vine as well as the weight of the water and ice on

the leaves increases the weight of trees. This often results in

branches breaking during heavy winds.

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