Vinca herbacea

• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Description

Family Apocynaceae

Trees , shrubs , or vines , rarely subshrubs or herbs, with latex or rarely watery juice. Leaves simple , opposite, rarely whorled or alternate, pinnately veined; stipules absent or rarely present. Inflorescences cymose , terminal or axillary , with bracteoles. Flowers bisexual , 5- [or 4]-merous, actinomorphic . Calyx 5- or rarely 4-partite, quincuncial, basal glands usually present. Corolla 5- or rarely 4-lobed, salverform , funnelform , urceolate , or rarely rotate, lobes overlapping to right or left, rarely valvate . Stamens 5 or rarely 4; filaments short; anthers mostly sagittate , free or connivent into a cone adherent to pistil head , dehiscing longitudinally, base rounded , cordate, sagittate, or prolonged into an empty spur; pollen granular ; disc ringlike or cup-shaped, 2-5-lobed, or absent. Ovaries superior, rarely half-inferior, connate or distinct , 1- or 2-locular; ovules (1 or) 2-numerous per locule. Style 1; pistil head capitate, conical , or lampshade-shaped, base stigmatic, apex 2-cleft and not stigmatic . Fruit a berry, drupe, capsule, or follicle. Seeds with or without coma; endosperm thick and often horny , scanty, sometimes absent; embryo straight or nearly so, cotyledons often large, radicle terete .

About 155 genera and 2000 species distributed primarily in the tropics and subtropics, poorly represented in the temperate regions . Of the 44 genera and 145 species present in China, one genus and 38 species are endemic, and nearly 95% of the taxa grow in the southern and southwestern portions of the country.

Fruit type is highly diversified in the family , and it is diagnostic of many genera. Genera 1-4 produce 1, 2-celled berries from a flower; genus 5 produces 2, 1-celled berries from a flower; 6 and 7 produce mostly fleshy follicles containing deeply indented seeds with ruminate endosperm; 8 has follicles and winged seeds; 9 produces follicles and seeds with 2 comas; 10-12 have follicles with globose seeds; 13-18 have drupes mostly with fleshy mesocarp; 19 has samaroid fruit; 20 has spiny capsules with seeds winged all around; and 21-44 have free or fused follicles and comose seeds. Double flowers are known only from cultivated forms of Nerium oleander, Tabernaemontana divaricata, and Wrightia religiosa.

Plants of the Apocynaceae are often poisonous and are rich in alkaloids or glycosides, especially in the seeds and latex. Some species are valuable sources of medicine, insecticides , fibers, and rubber.[1]

Genus Vinca

Herbs with stolons and watery juice. Leaves opposite, entire, short petiolate , intra- and interpetiolar glands present. Flowers solitary or rarely in 2-flowered cymes, axillary . Calyx small, without glands. Corolla violet, funnelform , tube cylindric , hairy or with scales at throat ; lobes obliquely obovate , spreading , shorter than tube, overlapping to left. Stamens inserted just below middle of corolla tube. Disc glands 2, ligulate , alternating with ovaries. Ovules 6-many. Style filiform ; pistil head ringlike, apex densely hairy. Follicles 2, erect or spreading, cylindric, striate . Seeds glabrous .

About five species: W Asia, Europe; two species cultivated in China.[2]

Physical Description

Habitat

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 1,090 meters (0 to 3,576 feet).[3]

Biology

Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Taxonomy

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Similar Species

Members of the genus Vinca

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 32 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

V. herbacea (Herbaceous Periwinkle) · V. major (Bigleaf Periwinkle) · V. major 'Maculata' (Greater Perwinkle) · V. major 'Variegata' (Variegata Variegated Greater Periwinkle) · V. minor (Common Periwinkle) · V. minor 'Green Carpet' (Green Carpet Vinca) · V. minor 'Alba' (Alba Flower-Of-Death Vinca Minor) · V. minor 'Alba Variegata' (Alba Variegata Flower-Of-Death Vinca Minor) · V. minor 'Argenteo-Variegata' (Argenteo-Variegata Flower-Of-Death Vinca Minor) · V. minor 'Atropurpurea' (Atropurpurea Flower-Of-Death Vinca Minor) · V. minor 'Azurea Flore Pleno' (Common Periwinkle) · V. minor 'Bowles' (Bowles` Common Periwinkle) · V. minor 'Bowles Golden' (Common Periwinkle) · V. minor 'Bowles's Purple' (Periwinkle 'bowles's Purple') · V. minor 'Hawaii' (Periwinkle 'hawaii') · V. minor 'Illumination' (Common Periwinkle) · V. minor 'Jekyll' (Jekyll`s White Common Periwinkle) · V. minor 'La Grave' (Common Periwinkle) · V. minor 'Multiplex' (Common Periwinkle) · V. minor 'Ralph Shugert' (Common Periwinkle) · V. minor 'Sterling Silver' (Creeping Myrtle) · V. minor 'Variegata' (Variegated Common Periwinkle) · V.'Cooler Coconut' (Coconut Vinca) · V. 'Cooler Grape' (Grape Vinca) · V. 'Cooler Peppermint' (Peppermint Vinca) · V.'Cooler Raspberry Red' (Raspberry Red Vinca) · V. 'Cooler Red' (Red Vinca) · V. 'Nirvana Cascade' (Nirvana Cascade Vinca) · V. 'Nirvana Red' (Nirvana Red Vinca) · V. 'Nirvana White' (Nirvana White Vinca) · V.'Pacifica Dark Red' (Dark Red Vinca) · V.'Victory Cranberry' (Cranberry Vinca)

More Info

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Further Reading

• A first report on the relations between climates and crops. By Cleveland Abbe. Washington [D.C.]: Govt. Print. Off., 1905. url p. 200.
• A practical guide to garden plants, containing descriptions of the hardiest and most beautiful annuals and biennials, hardy herbaceous and bulbous perennials, hardy water and bog plants, flowering and ornamental trees and shrubs, conife London;Longmans, Green, 1901. url , , p. 645, p. 88.
• A short treatise on horticulture: embracing descriptions of a great variety of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs, grape vines, bulbous flowers, greenhouse trees and plants, &., nearly all of which are at present comprised in the c By William Prince. New-York, Printed by T. and J.Swords, 1828. url p. 131.
• Alpine flowers for English gardens / by W. Robinson. London: Murray, 1879. url p. 424.
• Alpine flowers for gardens: rock, wall, marsh plants, and mountain shrubs / by W. Robinson. London: John Murray, 1903. url p. 329.
• Alpine flowers for gardens; rock, wall, marsh plants, and mountain shrubs, by W. Robinson. London, J. Murray, 1910. url p. 329.
• An introduction to the embryology of angiosperms. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1950. url p. 161, p. 176, p. 204, p. 213.
• Appendix to the first twenty-three volumes of Edwards's botanical register: consisting of a complete alphabetical and systematical index of names, synomymes and matter, adjusted to the present state of systematical botany, together with a sketch of the vegetation of the Swan by John Lindley. London: James Ridgway, 1839. url p. lxiv, p. xxiii.
• Beeton's Dictionary of everyday gardening. .. to which is added a monthly calendar of garden work throughout the year. London, Ward, Lock, 1909. url p. 427.
• Catalogue of scientific papers (1800-1900) Comp. by the Royal society of London. Cambridge, C. J. Clay and sons, 1867-1902; url p. 478.
• Catalogue of scientific papers, 1800-1900. CambridgeUniversity Press1908-14 url p. 478.
• Chamber's encyclopaedia, a dictionary of universal knowledge. London, Chambers, 1902. url p. 56.
• Edwards, S. T. The Botanical register: consisting of coloured figures of. .. 8 1822 London: Printed for James Ridgway, 1815-1828. url , , , , , , , , , .
• Enquiry into plants and minor works on odoùrs and weather signs, London, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1916. url p. 493.
• Field, forest and garden botany: a simple introduction to the common plants of the United States east of the 100th meridian, both wild and cultivated / by Asa Gray. New York: American Book, c1895. url p. 285.
• Field, forest, and garden botany, a simple introduction to the common plants of the United States, east of the Mississippi, both wild and cultivated. By Asa Gray. New York: Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & co., [c1868] url p. 275.
• Field, forest, and garden botany; a simple introduction to the common plants of the United States east of the 100th meridian, both wild and cultivated, by Asa Gray. .. Cincinnati [etc.]American Book Company[1895] url p. 285.
• Flora of Syria, Palestine and Sinai; from the Taurus to Ras Muhammad, and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Syrian desert. By Rev. George E. Post. Beirut, Syria, Syrian Protestant College[1896] url p. 522.
• Flora vectensis: being a systematic description of the phnogamous or flowering plants and ferns indigenous to the Isle of Wight. London, W. Pamplin, 1856. url .
• Flowers and their unbidden guests. London, C. K. Paul & Co., 1878. url p. 157.
• Garden and forest; a journal of horticulture, landscape art and forestry. New York: The Garden and forest publishing co., 1888-97. url , p. 208.
• Garden flowers: how to cultivate them. A treatise on the culture of hardy ornamental trees, shrubs, annuals, herbaceous and bedding plants. By Edward Sprague Rand, jr. Boston: J. E. Tilton and Company, 1866. url p. 372.
• Garden flowers; how to cultivate them. A treatise on the culture of hardy ornamental trees, shrubs, annuals, herbaceous and bedding plants. By Edward Sprague Rand, jr.. .. Boston, J. E. Tilton and company, 1866. url p. 372.
• Gray's lessons in botany and vegetable physiology, illus. by over 360 wood engravings, from original drawings, by Isaac Sprague. To which is added a copious glossary, or dictionary of botanical terms. By Asa Gray. Chicago, Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & co.[1868] url .
• Gray's school and field book of botany. Consisting of "Lessons in botany, " and "Field, forest, and garden botany, " bound in one volume. New York, American book company, 1901?, c1887 url p. 285.
• Hand-list of herbaceous plants cultivated in the Royal Botanic Gardens. London, Printed for H. M. Stationery Off. by Darling, 1902. url p. 1215.
• Handbook of flower pollination based upon Hermann Mller's work 'The fertilisation of flowers by insects'; tr. by J.R. Ainsworth Davis. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1906. url p. 87.
• Handbook of hardy trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Based on the French work of Messrs. Decaisne and Naudin entitled 'Manuel de l'amateur des jardins, ' and including the original woodcuts by Riocreux and Leblanc. Boston, Estes & Lauriat, 1873. url p. 298.
• Hardy flowers. Descriptions of upwards of thirteen hundred of the most ornamental species, with directions for their arrangement, culture, etc.. .. By W. Robinson. London, Macmillan, 1878. url p. 257.
• Lessons in botany and vegetable physiology, illus. by. .. Isaac Sprague. To which is added a copious glossary, or dictionary of botanical terms. New York, Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman, 1872 [c1868] url p. 275.
• Manual of the botany of the northern United States: including Virginia, Kentucky, and all east of the Mississippi / by Asa Gray; (The mosses and liverworts by Wm. S. Sullivant.) New York: Ivison, Phinney, 1863, c1862. url p. lxxiii.
• Meehan's monthly: a magazine of horticulture, botany, and kindred subjects. Phila., PA: T. Meehan & Sons, 1891-1902. url .
• Meehans' monthly: a magazine of horticulture, botany and kindred subjects / conducted by Thomas Meehan. Philadelphia: Thomas Meehan & Sons, 1891-1902. url p. 75.
• Nicholson, G. The illustrated dictionary of gardening: a practical and scientific encyclopdia of horticulture for gardeners and botanists /edited by George Nicholson; assisted by J.W.H. Trail. .. and J. Garrett. .. 8 1884 London: L.U. Gill, [1884]-88. url p. 379.
• Periodical catalogue of greenhouse shrubs, vines, herbaceous plants, and bulbous roots: cultivated and for sale at the Linnan Botanic Garden, Flushing, near New-York / William Prince & Sons, proprietors. New York: s.n., 1832. url p. 153.
• Phytologia memoirs. Plainfield, N.J.: H.N. Moldenke and A.L. Moldenke, 1980- url p. 445.
• Plant culture; a working hand-book of every day practice for all who grow flowering and ornamental plants in the garden and greenhouse, by George W. Oliver. New York, A. T. De La Mare Printing and Publishing Co., c1912. url , , p. 174, p. 222, p. 222.
• Plant culture; a working handbook of every day practice for all who grow flowering and ornamental plants in the garden and greenhouse, New York, A. T. De La Mare Co., Inc.[c1921] url , .
• Plant-geography upon a physiological basis. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1903. url p. 600.
• Reports of the Director. .. / Experimental Farms. Ottawa: Experimental Farms, 1888-1916. url p. 313.
• Standardized plant names; a catalogue of approved scientific and common names of plants in American commerce. Salem, Mass., 1923. url p. 200, p. 362.
• The Annals and magazine of natural history; zoology, botany, and geology being a continuation of the Annals combined with Loudon and Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History. London, Taylor and Francis, Ltd. url p. 549, p. 549.
• The English rock-garden, by Reginald Farrer. London, Jack, 1919. url p. 442.
• The Field naturalist: a review of animals, plants, minerals, the structure of the earth, and appearances of the sky / edited by James Rennie. London: Orr and Smith, 1835. url p. 107.
• The Florists' exchange: a weekly medium of interchange for florists, nurserymen, seedsmen and the trade in general. New York, N.Y.: [A.T. De la Mare Ptg. and Pub. Co., url p. 1271, p. 489, p. 536.
• The Garden: an illustrated weekly journal of gardening in all its branches. London: [s.n., url , , p. 145, p. 192, p. 210, p. 314, p. 364, p. 577, p. 93.
• The Gardener's monthly and horticulturist. Philadelphia, Pa.: Charles H. Marot, 1876-1888. url , p. 38.
• The Gardener. Edinburgh;W. Blackwood and sons, 1867-1882. url p. 547.
• The Gardeners' chronicle and agricultural gazette. 1844 London: published for the proprietors, 1844-1873. url p. 339.
• The Gardeners' chronicle: a weekly illustrated journal of horticulture and allied subjects. London: [Gardeners Chronicle], 1874-1955. url p. 305.
• The Horticulturist and journal of rural art and rural taste. Albany, N.Y.: Luther Tucker, 1846-1875. url p. 102.
• The Illustrated dictionary of gardening: a practical and scientific encyclopaedia of horticulture for gardeners and botanists / edited by George Nicholson. ..; assisted by J.W.H. Trail. .. and J. Garrett. ... London: L. Upcott Gill; 1887-1889. url p. 379.
• The Journal of horticulture, cottage gardener and country gentlemen. London: George W. Johnson and Robert Hogg, 1861-1877. url p. 258, p. 283.
• The Scottish naturalist. Perth [etc.]: Cowan & Co. [etc.], url p. 135.
• The botanic garden; consisting of highly finished representations of hardy ornamental flowering plants, cultivated in Great Britain; with their names, classes, orders, history, qualities, culture, and physiological obse By B. Maund... 1 London: Simpkin & Marshall, 1825- url .
• The garden month by month; describing the appearance, color, dates of bloom, height and cultivation of all desirable, hardy herbaceous perennials for the formal or wild garden with additional lists of aquatics, vines, ferns, et by Mabel Cabot Sedgwick assisted by Robert Cameron with over two hundred half-tone engravings from photographs of growing plants, and a chart in colors. New York, F.A. Stokes Co., [1907] url .
• The natural history of plants, their forms, growth, reproduction, and distribution; Dublin, Blackie & son, limited, 1902. url , , .
• The natural history of plants; their forms, growth, reproduction, and distribution. From the German of Anton Kerner von Marilaun, by F.W. Oliver, with the assistance of Marian Busk and Mary F. Ewart. with about 2000 original woodcut illustrations and sixteen plates in colours. London, Blackie, 1896-1897. url p. 525, p. 866.
• The wild garden, or the naturalization and natural grouping of hardy exotic plants with a chapter on the garden of British wild flowers. London, J. Murray, 1894. url , .
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• Transactions of the Botanical Society. Edinburgh: Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 1841-1891. url p. 319.
• Transactions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. [S.l.: s.n.], 1843-1920. url p. 268.
• Vegetable organography; or, An analytical description of the organs of plants. Translated by Boughton Kingdon. LondonHoulston & Stoneman1841 url p. 29.
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Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal December 06, 2007:

• Bundesamt für Naturschutz / Zentralstelle für Phytodiversität Deutschland, Bundesamt fuer Naturschutz / Zentralstelle fuer Phytodiversitaet Deutschland
• Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Israel Nature and Parks Authority
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Lund Botanical Museum
• Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum
• USDA PLANTS, USDA PLANTS Database
• University of Vienna, Institute for Botany - Herbarium WU, Herbarium WU

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2653374
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-30236
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13744326
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:82691-1
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 30236
• U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: VIHE3
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 68270

Footnotes

1. Bingtao Li, Antony J. M. Leeuwenberg & David J. Middleton "Apocynaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 16 Page 143. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
2. "Vinca". in Flora of China Vol. 16 Page 157. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
3. Mean = 380.190 meters (1,247.343 feet), Standard Deviation = 735.640 based on 31 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]

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