Periwinkle

Description:

Vinca ( Latin: vincire "to bind, fetter") is a genus of six species in the family Apocynaceae. The English name periwinkle is shared with the related genus Catharanthus Vinca plants are subshrubs or herbaceous, and have slender trailing stems 1–2 m (3–6 feet) long but not growing more than 20–70 cm (8-30 inches) above ground; the stems frequently take root where they touch the ground, enabling the plant to spread widely. The leaves are opposite, simple broad lanceolate to ovate, 1–9 cm (0.25–3.5 inches) long and 0.5–6 cm (0.25–2.25 inches) broad; they are evergreen in four species, but deciduous in the herbaceous V. herbacea, which dies back to the root system in winter.[5][6]

Habitat:

native to Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia. Invasive plant species Although attractive, both Vinca major and Vinca minor may be mildly invasive in some regions where they are introduced species because of the rapid spreading resulting in choking out native plant species and altering habitats. Areas affected include parts of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, especially coastal California. In other cases, Vinca has been recommended as a fire retardant ground cover.Invasiveness is regionally variable and many vincas won't readily displace native species.

Notes:

Both the vinca and Madagascar periwinkle flowers have become major players in the world of herbal medicine.