23+Vinca+Major

=23) Blue Periwinkle=

**Species** - Vinca Major
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Photo of Flower || Photo of leaves and stem || Photo of reproductive unit ||
 * [[image:YEAHH.jpg width="194" height="252"]]
 * NO BARK || [[image:vinca-maior-2.jpg width="200" height="229"]]

//**Vinca Major is a(n):**//

 * Angiosperm** - Plant whose seeds are enclosed within an ovary; typically flowering plants.
 * Dicot** - Flowering plant that has a seed and is protected by some sort of vessel like cover.
 * Monoecious** - Has both male and female reproductive parts usually flowers and cone like structures are monoecious.

__**Apocynaceae**__

 * 1) Leaves are simple and are //decussate.//
 * //Decussate// - means when the opposite leaf has a pattern perpendicular to the other leaf.
 * 1) Lack a //Stipules.//
 * //Stipules// - which are outgrowths that resign on the side of the leafstalks and can take form of glands, hairs, or spikes.
 * 1) Their flowers are very extravagant and radially symmetrical.
 * 2) Typically has one stamen that is inserted in the corolla tube, which is where the pedals unite in the center of the flower.
 * 3) It is a "perfect" flower which means that it is bisexual and has both gender parts, but the ovary is usually superior.
 * 4) They have a fruit instead of a seed. And usually takes form in a drupe, a berry, a capsule, or a follicle.
 * 5) Are Herbaceous, which means that it is a plant that has leaves and stems that follow the different season changes.
 * 6) Pedals take the shape similar to a starfish or star, which means they have 5 pedals.

Size:
__**Flower:**__ __**Whole Plant:**__
 * __Flowering Stems:__**
 * 0.25-0.5 meters
 * 3-5 centimeters
 * __Leaf (Length):__**
 * 3-9 centimeters
 * __Leaf (Width):__**
 * 2-6 centimeters
 * 50-70 centimeters tall

Identifying features:

 * __Vinca major/Blue Periwinkle:__**
 * 1) Ground covering plant.
 * 2) In spring to early fall, it produces many small lavender flowers, no bigger than your thumb.
 * 3) Has evergreen trailing vines; usually means the leaves are there all year-round if flower is not.
 * 4) In shape of a star so it has 5 pedals.
 * 5) Has a exceptionally small //Stigma//.
 * //Stigma// - where the pollen is present.
 * 1) The leaf shape is Elliptical which means that is almost perfectly rounded with an oval shape.
 * 2) Leaf base is rounded
 * 3) Leaf margins are entire meaning no bumpy edges just smooth.
 * 4) Leaf apcies are acute.

Location/Habitat:

 * __History:__**
 * The Vinca Major is native to the Southern part of Switzerland.
 * Can be found throughout Europe, North Africa, and spreads from Portugal and Turkey.
 * Later, the United States cultivated this plant and can be found in most parts of California.
 * In example, coastal regions, woodland foothills, and even some deserts.


 * __Habitat____:__**
 * The Vinca Major mostly grows in moist soil and only needs partial sunlight.
 * **SOIL** - Can be moderatley moist but not too moist where it can cause eurosion
 * **TEMPATURE** - Vinca Major can withstand heat but no for extensive amount of time. It needs to be covered half the time to allow cooling.
 * **HARDINESS** - Vinca Major's can withstand mild cold damages that Winter brings, such as heavy rain,mild wind, and cold tempatures, but not for long. They mostly need warm weather in order to photosynthesize, and be in areas where cross-pollinators helpers are abundant. So they are warm-hardiness plants.
 * **DISEASE/PEST SUSCEPTIBILITY** - Vinca major's don't cause any or attract any disease, but can attract bee's and other insects that like flowers which can become a pest to most people.

Water/Sun Requirements:
__**Sun:**__
 * Needs only partial sunlight, so some shade is nice.
 * But can die if too much sunlight is available.


 * __Water:__**
 * Tends to enjoy moist areas.
 * Too much water can uproot the plant.
 * But can withstand the normal winter season.

Reproduction:

 * __Vinca Major:__**
 * They are //cross pollinating// plants;
 * //Cross pollination -// meaning that the pollen is delivered to a flower from a different plant by usually using a vessel like a honey bee.
 * Most importantly, the flower needs to be bloomed in order to cross-pollinate
 * They rarely produce seeds.
 * Produce no sort of fruit.
 * Stem and root nodes can be dispersed by floods.
 * Reproduction mostly occurs in the Spring time, February - May, because it needs "helpers" for help the cross-pollination process. "Helpers" include mostly of honey bees.

Sources:
"Vinca Major." //Wikipedia//. 12 Jan. 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2010. .

Brickell, Christopher, and Trevor J. Cole. //American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers//. New York: DK Pub., 2002. Print.

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Created by: Alani Rojas