VINCA MAJOR subsp. MAJOR

Family and Genus:- See- APOCYNACEAE

Common Names:- Greater periwinkle

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Vinca (L) A name used by the Roman philosopher Pliny, derived from

the Latin vinculum, to overcome.

Major (L) Larger, greater, bigger.

General description:- Short to medium, spreading, evergreen subshrub, with long

arching or trailing stems, often rooting down at the tip.

Stems:-

1) Up to 100 cm. ascending in the lower part, then arching or procumbent.

Leaves:-

1) 2·5-9 x 2-6 cm, opposite, mostly ovate or broadly ovate (rarely lanceolate).

margins ciliate to 0·1-1 mm. shiny bright green, evergreen.

Flowers:-

1) Pedicels, up to 30 cm, shorter than the subtending leaves.

2) Calyx-lobes, 7-17 mm, very narrowly triangular, margins densely ciliate with

hairs·5-1 mm.

3) Corolla-tube, 12-15 mm, limb, 30-50 mm diam, lobes, obliquely truncate, usually

bluish-purple.

Fruit:-

1) Seeds, glabrous.

Key features:-

1) Leaves, up to 9 x 6 cm.

2) Flowering stems, up to 30 cm.

3) Calyx, hairs 0·5-1 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Mostly in and around villages, in damp, shady, ruderalized habitats,

0-1100 m.

Distribution:-Throughout Greece, but scarcely native. - Probably originating in the

W & C Mediterranean region, widely cultivated as an ornamental and naturalized in

many areas. Fairly widespread but scarce on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mid-March to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton