APOCYNACE^— DOGBANE FAMILY 



VINCA. PERIWINKLE. TRAILING MYRTLE 



Vinca minor 



« 



Perennial. Native to Europe and escaped from gar- 

 dens; common in country gardens, cemeteries, and shady 

 places. April-November. 



Stem. — Trailing and creeping, rooting at the nodes; 

 only the short flower-stems ascending. 



Leaves. — Opposite, evergreen, shining, ovate or oblong- 

 ovate. 



Flowers. — Blue or white, salver-shaped, solitary in the 

 axils of the leaves. 



Calyx. — Tubular, five-toothed. 



Corolla. — Blue or white, salver-shaped, border five- 

 lobed; lobes almost wedge-shaped, convolute in bud; 

 throat angled and thickened. 



Stamens. — Five, inserted on the upper part or middle 

 of the tube; filaments short; anthers bearded at the tip. 



Pistil. — Of two carpels; style long, slender, supports a 

 cup which is the stigma. 



Fruit. — Two pods, each having three or four seeds; 

 nectar-bearing. 



"There sprange the violet al newe 

 And fresh pervenke rich of hewe." 



— Chaucer. 



(( 



Through primrose tufts, in that sweet bower 

 The periwinkle trailed its wreaths; 

 And 'tis my faith that every flower 

 Enjoys the air it breathes." 



— Wordsworth. 



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