Catharanthus roseus

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

Botanical Name : Catharanthus roseus (L) G.Don.
Synonyms : Vinca rosea L.
Common Name : Baramasi, Sadaphuli, Periwinkle
Plant Family : Apocynaceae
Plant Form : Herb
Occurrence (Sectors) : 1-30
Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Sarita Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra, Infocity, Aranya Van

Habit : An erect, everblooming, ornamental herb, with branched tap root system.
Stem : Erect, cylindrical, branched, solid, purple red with milky latex, pubescent.
Leaves : Simple, exstipulate, opposite decussate subsessile or petiolate, ovate or obovate, entire, mucronate, unicostate reticulate.
Inflorescence : Solitary axillary or dichasial cyme.
Flowers :
- Ebracteate, pedicellate, complete, actinomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous, pentamerous, cyclic, rosy-purple in colour.
- Calyx made up of 5 sepals, polysepalous, valvate.
- Corolla made up of 5 petals, gamopetalous, twisted, pink, violet or purple in colour, hypocrateriform, throat of corolla swollen in which are present the stamens.
- Androecium of 5 stamens, polyandrous, epipetalous, filament short, anthers sagittate, dithecous, dorsifixed, introrse.
- Gynoecium bicarpellary, syncarpous but sometimes apocarpous, superior, ovary free, ovules many, marginal placentation, style long, stigma modified and capitate.
- Two green hypogynousnectaries or nectariferous scales are present. Nectaries are anteroposterior to the ovary.
Fruit : Follicle
Flowering and Fruiting Time :Throughout the year.
Significance : It is generally found as a garden ornamental.