common periwinkle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• common periwinkle
• lesser periwinkle
• running myrtle
• periwinkle
• running-myrtle
• creeping myrtle
• dwarf periwinkle
• small periwinkle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vinca minor variegata
• Vinca minor f. multiplex
• Pervinca heterophyla
• Vinca minor f. violacea
• Vinca minor var. atropurpurea
• Vinca minor var. intermedia
• Vinca intermedia
• Vinca ellipticifolia
• Vinca minor var. argenteovariegata
• Vinca minor f. argenteovariegata
• Vinca minor f. variegata
• Vinca minor var. sabinka
• Vinca minor var. variegata
• Vinca minor var. alba
• Vinca minor var. plena-purpurea
• Vinca minor var. aureovariegata
• Vinca minor f. alba
• Vinca minor var. multiplex
• Vinca minor f. atropurpurea
• Vinca minor f. azurea
• Vinca minor var. azurea
• Vinca minor var. caerulea
• Pervinca procumbens
• Pervinca repens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae and is identified by the genus Vinca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Its presence can be observed throughout the various landscapes of Denmark and Great Britain. In the western reaches of the continent, it is also found growing in Ireland. Moving further north, the species inhabits the rugged terrains of Norway. Finally, its geographical range extends through the expansive territories of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vinca minor is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse forest ecosystems, primarily occupying the shaded understory of deciduous and mixed woodlands. Its preferred habitat consists of moist, well-drained soils with a high organic content, often found in temperate regions where it can utilize the dappled sunlight filtering through a dense canopy. As a shade-tolerant species, it demonstrates high resilience to low-light conditions, allowing it to form extensive, dense groundcovers that effectively stabilize soil and suppress competing vegetation. While it flourishes in the humid, sheltered microclimates of forest floors, it can also adapt to woodland edges and occasionally established garden environments, provided there is sufficient moisture and protection from extreme desiccation.

Habitat :

(?)

Life history

The life history of Vinca minor is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a chamaephyte, its life form is defined by having its perenn Perennial buds located close to the soil surface, which helps it withstand various environmental conditions. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and green throughout the year, providing continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vinca minor is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, which functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a liana or vine. It is a terrestrial species, existing as an independent organism without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.339 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.339 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vinca minor is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for plants in temperate environments. It is a non-carnivorous species and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrients for its development. The plant's leaf morphology shows consistent dimensions, with a mean leaf width of 1.5 cm (reaching a maximum of 1.5 cm and a minimum of 1.5 cm) and a maximum leaf length of 3 cm. The average leaf size is recorded at 5.65 cm², which, when considered alongside its mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 247 cm²/g, provides insight into its resource acquisition strategy and leaf thickness relative to its surface area.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

5.65 cm²

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

247 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vinca minor is characterized by a sexual process involving biotic pollination, specifically through an insect-based syndrome where bees play a significant role. The plant follows a flowering cycle that begins in April and concludes in May. During the reproductive phase, self-fertilization is noted to be absent, necessitating cross-pollination. The resulting fruit is a dehiscent capsule, which houses seeds with a consistent mean, minimum, and maximum mass of 0.00613 g. Following maturity, the plant utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome to distribute its seeds. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, meaning its propagation relies entirely on the successful cycle of pollination and seed dispersal.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass mean:

0.00613 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vinca minor has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Chemicals

Vinca minor has 90 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include vincamine, Vincaminoreine, Akuammidine, Minovincine, Minovine.

vincamine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of plant physiology
3. Protoplasma
4. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
5. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Vincaminoreine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
3. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Akuammidine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Minovincine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Minovine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Picrinine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Strictamine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Vincaminorine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

(+)-Quebrachamine

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Eburnamine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Vinca minor has 206 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Cytotoxic, Hypotensive, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of dietary supplements

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Hypotensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of dietary supplements
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Vasodilator

1. Dr. Duke
2. Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenolytic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Vinca minor has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Parkinson's disease, antidiabetic, antioxidant, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases.

Parkinson's disease

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Atherosclerosis

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)

Hypertension

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Ischemic heart disease

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Nootropic

1. Journal of plant physiology

Preparations

Vinca minor has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extracts, extracts, hairy roots.

Ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hairy roots

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology