Sunday, July 21, 2024

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don

 

Family – Apocynaceae

Synonym – Ammocallis rosea (L.) Small; Lochnera rosea (L.) Rchb. ex Spach; Pervinca rosea (L.) Gaterau; Vinca rosea L.; Vinca speciosa Salisb. 

Vernacular names – Anchithal thetti; Banappoovu; Kasithetty; Nithyakallyani; Savakottappacha; Savam-naripoovu; Sadapushpi; Simitherichedi; Smasanapoochedi; Ushamalari; Vishanarayani

Habit – Herb

Habitat – Grown as ornamental plants also naturalised

Distribution – Native of Madagascar; cultivated, alsonow naturalised in the tropics

Flowering and Fruiting – August-January

Key Identification Features – This woody herb has elliptic-obovate leaves, pink or white flowers with triangular-obovate lobes, and linear follicles containing many black seeds. The stems, leaves, and calyx are covered in fine hairs.

Uses - It’s an ornamental plant, thriving in dry conditions, and is used for warm-season bedding. Medicinally, it provides vincristine and vinblastine, essential for cancer treatment.



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