THE PEKIWINKLE. 



Tinea major. Xat. Ord., Apocynacece. 



OME little doubt has been thrown 

 upon the claims of this plant one of 

 the only two British examples of the 

 botanical order to which it belongs 

 to a place in our flora ; but even if it be 

 not really a native, it has become so 

 thoroughly naturalised that we need feel 

 little scruple in admitting it into our 

 list ; and there is no doubt that it has 

 long been flourishing amongst us. It 

 is no recent importation, like some of 

 the North American plants that have 

 within the memory of living botanists 

 first made their appearance amongst us., 

 since it is referred to by Chaucer : 



" There sprang the violet all new, 

 And fresh pervinke rich of hew, 

 And flowers yellow, white, and rede, 

 Such plenty grew there never in mede." 



The botanical name of the plant is the Yinca major, 

 the lesser periwinkle, a very similar plant to this^ 

 being known as the Tinea minor. In the larger peri- 

 winkle the species we have figured in our plate the 

 stems, though weak and trailing, are much stronger and 



