Ivy

The History of Plants, by John Gerarde

The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes
Gerard’s Herbal from the Edition of T.H. Johnson, published in 1636




The Description.

The greater Ivie climbeth on trees, old buildings, and walls: the stalkes thereof are wooddy, and now and then so great as it seemes to become a tree; from which it sendeth a multitude of little boughes or branches every way, whereby as it were with armes it creepeth and wandereth far about: it also bringeth forth continually fine little roots, by which it fastneth it selfe and cleaveth wonderfull hard upon trees, and upon the smoothest stone walls: the leaves are smooth, shining especially on the upper side, cornered with sharpe pointed corners. The floures are very small and mossie; after which succeed bundles of black berries, every one having a small sharpe pointall.

The Time.

Ivie flourisheth in Autumne: the berries are ripe after the Winter Solstice.

The Vertues.

The leaves laid in steepe in water for a day and a nights space, helpe sore and smarting waterish eies, if they be bathed and washed with the water wherein they have beene infused.