Greater Periwinkle, Vinca major

The Greater Periwinkle is a fast growing, short to medium evergreen

perennial, with beautiful flowers. Its arching stems can reach lengths of up to 30 cm (approx. 12 in) in height, but soon fall over and spread indefinitely, often rooting down at the tip.

Its shiny, bright green leaves come in pairs, facing each other. They are approximately 5 - 7.5 cm (2 - 3 in) long and oval shaped. Its truly fascinating flowers are bluish-violet or purplish, 30 - 50 mm (1 1/8 - 2 in) across.

Vinca major grows in or near garrigue, woodland, river and stream banks and hedgerows. It is a widely cultivated, ornamental plant, but can be quite invasive, so caution should be exercised when introducing it to new areas.

The Greater Periwinkle apparently has strong medicinal properties and has been described as an incredibly complex alkaloid plant.

According to "Plants for a Future", the Greater Periwinkle is astringent, bitter, detergent, sedative, stomachic and tonic. It contains the alkaloid "vincamine", which is used by the pharmaceutical industry as a cerebral stimulant and vasodilator. It also contains "reserpine", which reduces high blood pressure. It is used internally in the treatment of excessive menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, vaginal discharge and hardening of the arteries. It should not be given to patients with constipation. It is applied externally to vaginal discharge, nosebleed, sore throat and mouth ulcers. The plants are cut when flowering and dried for later use. The fresh flowers are gently purgative, but lose their effect on drying. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh leaves; it is used in the treatment of haemorrhages.

The same source states that the stems are used in basket making, whilst the plant makes a very good ground cover for covering steep banks and shady places, spreading rapidly once established and forming a dense cover within 2 years.

Type of plant
Evergreen perennial subshrub

Flowering Season
March - May

Known Hazards
Poisonous if ingested in large quantities

Known Uses
Used in medicine as a cerebral stimulant and vasodilator. Also used in the treatment of excessive menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, vaginal discharge and hardening of the arteries. Stems are used in basket weaving. The plant makes a good ground cover. "Plants for a Future" rate this plant 0 out of 5 for edibility and 3 out of 5 for medicinal use (min. 0, max. 5).

Habitat
Garrigue, woodland, stream and river banks, hedgerows

Distribution
Throughout the Mediterranean region

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae (Plants); Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants); Superdivision: Spermatophyta (Seed plants); Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants); Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons); Subclass: Asteridae; Order: Gentianales; Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbane family); Genus: Vinca; Species: major

Acknowledgments

Information on the plant's edible and medicinal uses was obtained from "Plants for a Future".