IVY - FOR ERASMUS + PROJECT
Collaborative dictionary of mythological plants
FUNDED BY EUROPEAN UNION
TARGET GROUP NUMBER: 22
Hedera rhombea
flowers
fruits
Scientific name: Hedera helix
Genus: Hedera
Species: H. helix
Vulgar name
Spanish: hiedra
Basque: huntz
Italian: hedera
Greek: Κισσός
Morphological description
Uses, threats and singularity
Bronchitis. Early research shows that taking cough syrup (Prospan; Panoto-s; Athos; Abrilar) or herbal drops (Prospan Herbal Drops) containing English ivy leaf extract by mouth, alone or with usual treatment, for about 1-3 weeks might improve lung function in children ages <1 to 15 years, as well as adults, with sudden or recurring bronchitis. however, it's too soon to tell if the improvement is due to english ivy extract, the usual treatment, or natural course of the disease.
Ivy can also be used for liver disorders, spleen disorders, gallbladder disorders, gout, joint pain and swelling, scrofulosis. skin wounds, nerve pain, ulcers, parasites, other conditions.
Threats or side effects:
Cough syrup containing English ivy leaf extract is possibly safe when taken by mouth three times daily for 1 week. It might cause skin irritation when taken by mouth and it might cause mild stomach problems.
Not enough is known about the safety of applying English ivy to the skin.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about it during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Children: Cough syrup or herbal drops with English ivy leaf extract are possibly safe when taken by mouth three times daily for up to 20 days.
Singularity:
English ivy is a vine. The leaves are used to make medicine. People apply English ivy to the skin for burns, calluses, skin infection, inflammation,nerve pain, parasites, ulcers, joint pain and swelling, and vein swelling, for example.
Symbolism
Ivy, being an evergreen plant, represents eternity, fidelity, and strong affectionate attachment, such as wedded love and friendship. The ivy plant is also a strong plant which can grow in the hardest enviroment.
Another association of Ivy as an evergreen, is perennial life and immortality. It also may represent dependence and attachment, which can be seen in the way it climbs trees and buildings to get sunlight. The ivy leaf is also phallic, depicting the male trinity, but it can also be a female symbol denoting a force in need of protection. Conversely, however, its malevolent, poison feature can cause it to be seen often as ingratitude.
Used as a Christmas Plant
Many believe therefore that the pagan wreaths also symbolized the battle of the genders.Ivy gave rise to a romantic and sad legend from Cornwall.
The beautiful Iseult and the knight Tristan were so much in love that Iseult died of grief when Tristan was killed.
However, the King was also in love with Iseult. He became jealous of Tristans’ hold on the love of Iseult, even in death.He therefore ordered for the young lovers’ graves to be placed far apart from each other. However, an ivy plant started to grow on each grave.
The two plants eventually met and got intertwined in a love knot. Wagner found inspiration in the legend of Tristan and Iseult’s everlasting love for the creation of his opera Tristan and Isolde.
Classical myths related to the plant
Tristan and Isolde
Wagner referred to the work not as an opera, but called it "eine Handlung" (literally a drama, a plot or an action), which was the equivalent of the term used by the Spanish playwright Calderón for his dramas.