Common Name: Greater perwinkle, Blue Perwinkle
Blue perwinkle is a native to the Mediterranean region, it is used as an ornamental ground cover plant. Often seen in hill station towns and gardens in Tamilnadu. The simple leaves are arranged in an opposite manner; the leaf shape is ovate; the base is cordate and the tip acute. The leaf stalk and leaf measure around 1.2 cm; the leaf measures around 3 cm in lenght. The leaves are glossy green in color with a leathery texture. The flowers are axillary and mostly seen single; the flower is five parted with violet petals; the petals are joined below to form a tubular flower. The flower stalk measure around 3.5 cm; the petals are ovate in shape; the flower tube measure around 1.5 cm and the flower measurers around 4.2 cm across. The calyx has five teeth elements; the entire calyx measure around 1.5 cm. The calyx teeths are thin, green in color and laceolate in shape. The flower encloses 5 stamens and a single style. The fruit is in the form of follicles. Blue perwinkle is used as an ornametnal plant in India, it roots at internvals and forms extensive ground cover.
