APOCYNACE^. 63 



1 to 2 inches long. Corolla bluish-purple, salver-shaped ; limb IJ 

 to 2 inches broad. 



Greater JPeriwinkle. 



French, Fervenche cl Grande Fleur. German, Singriin. 



The ancient name of this flower in England was Pervinke, and it is frequently 

 mentioned by Chaucer under that name, and other old poets. It was used for chaplets, 

 and in the ballad against the Scots, we read of 



And again — 



" A "arlande of Pervenke set on his heaed." 



" There sprange the violet al newe 

 And fresh Pervenke rich of hewe." 



Few modern poets seem to have been able to bring in its very unmanageable name. 

 Wordsworth, however, says — 



" Through primrose tufts in that sweet bower 

 The fair Periwinkle trailed its wreaths, 

 And 'tis my faith that every flower 

 Enjoys the air that breathes." 



SPECIES II.— VINCA MINOR. Linn. 



Plate DCCCCYI. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MLXII. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 54. 



Sterile stems prostrate, rooting at most of the nodes ; flowering 

 ones short, erect. Leaves coriaceous, evergreen, shortly stalked, 

 elliptical or oval- elliptical, narrowed towards the base, acute, entire, 

 glabrous and not ciliated. Flowers solitary, axillary, on peduncles 

 generally shorter than the leaves. Calyx-segments triangular- 

 subulate, glabrous, about one-third the length of the corolla. 



In woods, thickets, and hedge-banks. Not uncommon, and 

 widely distributed, though probably planted in very many of its 

 localities. 



England, [Scotland, Ireland.] Shrub. Spring 

 and Summer. 



Stems thinner and more wiry than in V. major, and usually 

 rooting at more points than at the apex ; leaves much firmer in 

 texture, 1 to 2 inches long, attenuated at the base. Flowers very 

 similar to those of V. major, but scarcely more than 1 inch across. 



The very short sepals not ciliated at the margins, and the leaves 

 narrowed, at the base, are sufficient at once to distinguish it from 

 V. major. 



Lesser Periwinkle, 



