Vinca major L.
large periwinkle (bigleaf periwinkle)
Apocynaceae (Dogbane family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
large periwinkle (bigleaf periwinkle)
Apocynaceae (Dogbane family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Trailing perennial herb, freely rooting; stems spreading, 10-60 cm long, branching.
Leaves:
Opposite, egg-shaped to egg-shaped-lanceolate, squared-off or somewhat heart-shaped at the base, margins fringed with small hairs (ciliate), 3-9 cm long.
Flowers:
Solitary, bluish-purple, usually 30-50 mm wide, up to 4 per stem, calyx lobes ciliate.
Fruits:
Long cylindric pods without tufts of hair, 3-5 cm long.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Roadsides and waste places in the lowland zone; infrequent in SW BC, known from SE Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands; introduced from Europe.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Vinca major var. variegata Louden
Taxonomic Keys
1. Flowers usually 20-30 mm wide, usually solitary; calyx lobes glabrous; leaves narrowed at the base............V. minor
1. Flowers usually 30-50 mm wide, up to 4 per stem; calyx lobes ciliate; leaves squared-off or somewhat heart-shaped at the base............. V. major |