|
| |
History and Description
The periwinkle
was introduced into the United States in the 1700s. It was originally native to
the Europe. The periwinkle is a perennial evergreen herb. The stem of the
periwinkle is a little bit woody and is hard to break. It doesn’t have any hair
and is smooth. The leaves of the periwinkle are shaped like hearts.
From April to May the
periwinkle produces flowers. The colors range from violet to blue lavender to
white, with five petals. The petals are 0.2 to 0.4 inches long. The flowers are
1.5 to 2 inches wide, with a 0.6 to 0.8-inch long tube. From May to July fruit
begins to appear on the periwinkle. The fruit is 2 inches long.
Uses
The periwinkle is used for
ornamental ground cover, and commonly sold and planted by gardeners. It is also
used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, colds, eye irritations, and
infections. However, the alkaloids in the periwinkle have serious side effects
such as hair loss so people shouldn’t medicate themselves. The Europeans thought
the periwinkle was a magic plant. They believe it could keep evil spirits
away.
Reproduction
The periwinkle can reproduce
from roots coming out of a periwinkle vine. It is found around old home site
plantings, and spreads in open to dense canopied forests. It rarely spreads by
seeds because they have a difficult time maturing.
Ecological
Threat
It forms mats and
wide-ranging infestations even under forest canopies by vines rooting at nodes.
Control
To control the big-leaf
periwinkle you have to cut the plant in the spring, mow it, or lift it up with a
rake. Pulling them up is another effective method for controlling the
periwinkle. After you cut it you have to apply a herbicide to the re-growth.
|
