Woody vines, evergreen, hermaphroditic or andromonoecious, creeping or climbing by aerial roots, unarmed. Leaves simple, entire or coarsely lobed, those of fertile shoots differentiated; stipules absent. Inflorescence a terminal, compact raceme of umbels, or occasionally umbels solitary. Pedicels not articulate below ovary. Calyx subentire or 5-toothed. Petals 5, valvate. Stamens 5. Ovary 5-carpellate; styles united into a short column. Fruit a drupe, globose. Seeds ovoid; endosperm ruminate.

Among recent literature the following are relevant: Ackerfield and Wen, A morphometric analysis of Hedera L. (the ivy genus, Araliaceae) and its taxonomic implications (Adansonia, sér. 3, 24: 197-212. 2002); Ackerfield and Wen, Evolution of Hedera (the ivy genus, Araliaceae): insights from chloroplast DNA data (Int. J. Pl. Sci. 164: 593-602. 2003).

Hedera hypoglauca Hance is the basionym of Ampelopsis hypoglauca (Hance) C. L. Li in the Vitaceae (see Fl. China 12).

About 15 species: N Africa, tropical and subtropical Asia, Europe; two species in China.