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

About Catharanthus roseus Plant :

  • 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.