Periwinkle

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Periwinkle (plant), common name for herbs in a genus of the dogbane family. The leaves are opposite and evergreen. The flowers grow singly or in pairs from the axils of the leaves. The lesser periwinkle is a native of many parts of Europe, growing in woods and thickets. The greater periwinkle, which has much larger flowers and ovatocordate, or egg-shaped, leaves, is a native of southern Europe. Periwinkles are the source of alkaloids that are often used to treat cancer.

Scientific classification: Periwinkles make up the genus Vinca, of the family Apocynaceae. The lesser periwinkle is classified as Vinca minor and the greater periwinkle as Vinca major.

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