Vinca major L., Apocynaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: man chang chun hua

English: bigleaf periwinkle, greater periwinkle, large periwinkle, periwinkle

Spanish: herba donzella, previnca

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Stems glabrous, long and partly trailing or running and rooting at nodes, with terminal part often ascending, forming dense mats often covering many square meters. Petiole (5)-7-20 mm long; margins hirsute. Lamina (3)-4-10 x (1.8)-2.5-7 cm, ovate, usually dark glossy green above, rarely variegated white and green; midrib hairy above; margins ciliate; base mostly rounded or subcordate, sometimes truncate or broad-cuneate; apex obtuse or acute. Pedicels 2.5-4 cm long, slender. Calyx 0.9-1.7 cm long; lobes linear-subulate, ciliate, glandular towards base. Corolla tube c. 1.5 cm long; limb (3)-3.5-5 cm in diameter, mauvish blue; lobes obliquely obovate; apex truncate or obtuse. Anthers slightly wider than long. Follicles 3.5-5 cm long, the apical part very narrow and pointed, constricted between seeds. Seeds 7-8 mm long, oblong, strongly corrugated; margins inrolled"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 142).

Habitat/ecology:  "Forests, grassland, riparian habitats, coastal dunes.  A fast growing plant that spreads mainly by vegetative growth.  It is a vigorous creeper, occurring in large infestation in semi-shady conditions.  The numerous intertwined stems form dense and thick mats that cover the ground, smother small plants and crowd out native species.  Establishment of shrub and tree seedlings is prevented"  (Weber, 2003; p. 451).

In New Zealand, "waste places, particularly in the shade of trees and shrubs by riverbanks, roadsides, cemeteries and around gardens"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 142).  "In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:  Low altitude, interior valleys; coastal mountains, 500-2000 m; coastal areas, 0-500 m.  Watering conditions: Somewhat dry areas where the drought may last 3-5 months, precipitations of 400-800 mm. are concentrated in winter; humid areas, with almost constant rainfall, short dry periods are possible (generally not longer than 1 month).  Light conditions: In shadow, steep slopes facing south or a vegetation cover which filters 40-80% of light"  (Chileflora).

Propagation:  Seed, shoots.  "Periwinkle can be troublesome in gardens because the long shoots run over the ground and root at the nodes"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 142).

Native range:  Europe (Albania, Former Yugoslavia, France, Italy, Spain), exact native range obscure; widely naturalized elsewhere, especially in the Mediterranean region (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013) Occurring locally as a garden escape.
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013) Occurring locally as a garden escape.
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 501, 547, 558) Voucher cited: Danton B(440)397. "En RC, está presente desde mucho tiempo y resulta ser invasora en el territorio de la Ilustre Municipalidad de Jan Fernández. Hace poco encontramos el cv. ‘variegata’ en algunos jardines del pueblo de San Juan Bautista. Es una especie que hay que limitar drásticamente su extención".
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1943) (voucher ID: BISH 24106) Taxon name on voucher: Vinca major L.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Martz, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2002) (pp. 17-18) East Maui. Voucher cited: Starr & Martz 990105-2 (BISH)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) "Frequently cultivated as an ornamental, occasionally naturalized near habitation".
British Columbia (province of Canada) Province of British Columbia	Canada (British Columbia)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Cultivated for medicine. Jiangsu, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 187)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 142) A widespread escape from cultivation naturalised in all districts.
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Belov, Michail (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Cultivated for medicine.
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control: 

Physical:  "Seedlings are easy to hand pull, small infestations can be dug out.  Solarization by plastic sheeting for 4-6 months is used to kill smaller infestations"

Chemical:  "Larger infestations can be mown or slashed and the regrowth treated with herbicide.  Effective herbicides are glyphosate or triclopyr.  Follow-up treatments are necessary to control seedlings and regrowth"  (Weber, 2003; p. 451).