With shiny leaves and pretty flowers ‘Periwinkle’ is a unique plant, which blends ornamental values and medicinal properties. It has earned the name ‘Sadabahar’ in Hindi as the flowers are literally ever blooming. French referred to it as “Violet of the Sorcerers” as it could ward off evil spirits. In Kannada it is “Nithya pushpa”, “Kashi kanigile.” Other names are “Cape periwinkle” “Church flower”; “Madagascar periwinkle”; “Catharanthus” ; Konkani : “Sadapushp”; Malayalam: “Shavam Naari”, “Banappuvu” ; Tamil : “Nitya Kalyani”; Telugu: Billaganneru). The botanical name is Catharanthus roseus (Syn. Vinca rosea) of Apocyanoceae. A native of Madagarcas, it is common throughout India. It is an evergreen herb or an herbaceous under shrub, quite hardy, biennial or short lived perennial, up to 3 ft height. The stems are green, silky, and glossy with latex. Leaves are simple, oval, oblong or obovate and opposite in position. The flowers in cymose axillary clusters, are round and flat with an eye in the center. The star like corolla has 5 petals with varying colours (mainly rose & white). The canoe shaped fruits produced in pairs are called follicles. There are many varieties / cultivars with carpet like or upright habits like rosea, rosea alba. Another species C. minor with several varieties is a trailing plant producing blue coloured flowers & one variety with variegated leaves. A variety of C. major with large coloured flowers grows best on hills. C. pusillus (tiny periwinkle) with quadrangular branches and small flowers is native to India.
Medicinal Properties
