24-02-2018, 01:02 PM
Another possible explanation for the lack of leaves might be an identification feature...
Assuming it's a form of ivy, perhaps it's Bryony (e.g., rather than Hedera). One of the distinctive characteristics of Bryony is that it loses its leaves and retains the berries through winter.
Both Bryony and Hedera are commonly represented in herbal manuscripts, but it's usually Hedera that is shown twining around a tree, but Bryony also twines around fences and other plants. Bryony, however, has red berries, whereas Hedera berries are colored like the VMS berries.
Because the berries are not numerous in the VMS drawing, it seems less likely that it's grape vine (plus the grapes are harvested and not left on the vine in winter).
Assuming it's a form of ivy, perhaps it's Bryony (e.g., rather than Hedera). One of the distinctive characteristics of Bryony is that it loses its leaves and retains the berries through winter.
Both Bryony and Hedera are commonly represented in herbal manuscripts, but it's usually Hedera that is shown twining around a tree, but Bryony also twines around fences and other plants. Bryony, however, has red berries, whereas Hedera berries are colored like the VMS berries.
Because the berries are not numerous in the VMS drawing, it seems less likely that it's grape vine (plus the grapes are harvested and not left on the vine in winter).