Vinca minorL. - Lesser periwinkle
Scientific Description:
Evergreen subshrub with flowering shoots to 15 cm, trailing shoots to 60 cm, making densely interwoven masses. Leaves evergreen, blade mostly elliptic or lanceolate (but often ovate on trailing shoots), 1.5–4.5 × 0.5–2.5 cm, base usually cuneate, sometimes rounded, apex acute or obtuse, margin smooth and glabrous, with veins spreading from midrib at 40−60; petiole 2−10 mm. Calyx 3−4 mm, glabrous. Corolla usually blue-violet, sometimes white or reddish-purple; tube 9−11 mm, lobes 10−15 mm. Follicles 1.5−2 cm; seeds 6−9 mm.
FIowering time: April.
Altitude: c. 1200 m.
Reference:
Stearn WT (1978). Vinca minor L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 6: 163.
Public Description:
Vinca minor, common name “lesser periwinkle” and “dwarf periwinkle”, is native to central and southern Europe, from Portugal and France north to the Netherlands and the Baltic States, east to the Caucasus, and also southwestern Asia. Lesser periwinkle is evergreen subscrubs and flowers are lavender blue. The species is commonly grown as a groundcover in temperate gardens for its evergreen foliage, spring and summer flowers, ease of culture, and dense habit that smothers most weeds. “Vinpocetine”, derived from this plant, has been used as a drug in Eastern Europe for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders and age-related memory impairment.
References:
Anonymous (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinca_minor /, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Güner A (2012). Vinca L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 84−85.