Trees & Plants

Periwinkle

Malikuruvaa

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.

In homesteads as ornamental plant. G. Don The whole plant contains alkaloids which have hypotensive, sedative and tranquillising properties and is used as a folk remedy for diabetes. The root is toxic, bitter, acrid, stomachic and tonic. The juice from leaves is good for wasp-sti

Details

§ 01

uses: The whole plant contains alkaloids which have hypotensive, sedative and tranquillising properties and is used as a folk remedy for diabetes. The root is toxic, bitter, acrid, stomachic and tonic. The juice from leaves is good for wasp-stings and menorrhagia. The anticancer drugs namely ‘vincristine’ and ‘vinblastine’ are extracted from this plant. Th reat & damage: Catharanthus has been 10 observed to spread as an invasive species in some of the Islands. It can have negative impact on native flora and fauna. 5, as
family: Apocynaceae
synonym: Vinca rosea L., Lochnera rosea (L.) Rchb.
description: Perennial woody herbs. Leaves × simple, opposite, decussate, 3-6 1.5-2.5 cm, elliptic-obovate, apex obtuse or rounded, Th base cuneate, glabrous; lateral veins ca. 10 pairs, chartaceous; petiole to 1.3 cm long. Flowers axillary, solitary or paired, shortly pedicellate. Calyx-lobes 5, subequal, 3-5 mm long, subulate. Corolla pink or white, tube 2-3 cm long, pubescent without; lobes 5, × 1.5-2 1-1.5 cm, triangular-obovate, obtuse. Stamens 5, included. Ovary ca. 4 mm long; × style to 3 cm long. Follicles 2-3 0.2-0.3 cm, linear, puberulous; seeds many, black.
native range: Madagascar
distribution: China, India, USA, Cuba
english names: Periwinkle · Rose periwinkle · Madagascar periwinkle · Vinca
flowering fruiting: August – January
occurrence maldives: In homesteads as ornamental plant. G. Don