Systematics

Description

Distribution & Habitat

Culture

Propagation

Uses

References

Delairea odorata

(Senecio mikanioides)

 

Cape Ivy,

German Ivy

 

German Ivy used to be characterized as genus Senecio; however, it has since been separated from Senecio and given an independent genus Delairea with only one species, D. odorata.

 

Reference for Systematic Information:

Bremer, K. 1994. Asteraceae: cladistics and classification. Timber Press, Portland, OR

Systematics:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order:Asteraceae

Family: Asteraceae

Description

German Ivy is a perennial liana (climbing plant) with fleshy bright waxy green colored leaves. Usually, its leaf has six pointed sharply palmate lobes. Its clustered yellow flowers bloom in May in the Southern Hemisphere and from December to March in the Northern Hemisphere.

Photo credit: www.nps.gov/redw/c-ivy.htm

Reference for Descriptive Information:

http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog.bholzman/courses/fall99projects/capeivy.htm

Distribution and Habitat

Photo credit: http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog.bholzman/courses/fall99projects/capeivy.htm

German Ivy is native to the Cape Region of South Africa. This area is one of five world wide mediterranean climates which are characterized by cool, wet winters and summer drought. The other mediterranean climates include the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, Southern and Western Australia, Central Chile, and much of California.

Since the time of European Colonization, German Ivy has been introduced to climates favorable for its growth and has quite successfully invaded them. (These areas along with its native distribution in Africa are shaded in red in the above map.)

Reference for Distribution and Habitat Information: http://www.support.net/medit/plants/Delairea.odorata.html

Cultural Information

Soil · Loam

Water requirement · Keep uniformly moist; growing media kept moist to touch, but not saturated with water.

Light · Medium;
Humidity · High; 45-60% (greenhouse)

Temperature · Between Temperate (50-55F night, 65-70F day) and Cool (40-45F night, 55-60F day)

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Reference for Cultural Information:

http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/Horticulture/g837.htm

Here there is going to be a diagram of how to take a proper cutting... for now its substituted with an ivy picture so that i can get and idea of spatial orientation. The picture will be replaced as soon as I can get ahold of a scanner.

Propagation Methods

 

Because German Ivy is a successful invading species, there is little information concerning its propagation; instead, information focuses on its removal.

 

However, although German Ivy is not taxonomically a true ivy (Hedera sp.) its structrual similarities with ivy allow it to be propagated as such. Left to its own devices, German Ivy will produce stem trails which lie on the soil and root at the nodes.

Nodal cuttings may be used for propagation. These are sections of stem, cut so that the node is the base of the cutting. Each cutting should have at least two leaves at or above the next node (see diagram).

References for Propagation Methods and Photo credit:

Rose, Peter Q. 1980. Ivies. Blandford Press, Poole, England.

Uses/ Fun Facts

Regarding "Fun Facts" German Ivy is a menace! Information concerning German Ivy almost always includes a warning that it is very invasive and should only be planted outdoors with extreme caution (if at all). Although German Ivy makes a beautiful houseplant, but for example, it is devastating the flora and fauna in California where its invasion has been extremely successful for several reasons. First, it grows rapidly and takes root wherever a leaf node touches the ground; it can survive for long periods before resprouting; and it can live for an extended period without light or water. German Ivy forms dense vines that cover and smother native vegetation. Furthermore, it contains alkaloid compounds which eventually contaminate aquatic habitats damaging the fauna.

References for Uses and Fun Facts:

http://www.nps.gov/redw/c-ivy.htm

 General References

Bremer, K. 1994. Asteraceae: cladistics and classification. Timber Press, Portland, OR

Rose, Peter Q. 1980. Ivies. Blandford Press, Poole, England.

http://www.ainr.unl.edu/pubs/Horticulture/g837.htm

http://www.support.net/medit/plants/Delairea.odorata.html

http://www.nps.gov/redw/c-ivy.htm

 

http://bss.stsu.edu/geog/bholzman/courses/fall99projects/capeivy.htm

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Image References:

URL specified below each image.

This page was developed by:

Kate Mavrich, W&J Class of 2001

 

Last revised on April 30, 2001