Flora canaria > Especies silvestres
Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus (L.) Don
Familia
APOCYNACEAE
Pervinca, Vinca rosa, Pervinca rosa, Dominica
Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as Madagascar periwinkle, is a species of perennial herbaceous or shrubby plant in the Apocynaceae family. It is native and endemic to Madagascar, but is now widely cultivated in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions around the world thanks to its showy flowers and remarkable hardiness.
The flowers have five petals with a diameter of 2 to 5 cm. They come in a wide range of colours, from pure white to shades of pink, fuchsia, orange and red, often with a darker or contrasting centre.
Its leaves are oval or oblong, a very striking bright green, with a paler central vein.
It is highly prized in gardening due to its high tolerance to extreme heat, drought and poor-quality soils.
It requires full sun or partial shade to flower profusely. Water sparingly to moderately. It is essential to avoid waterlogging, as its roots are prone to rotting due to excess moisture.
It requires a well-drained growing medium. It grows well even in sandy or slightly infertile soils.
Despite being a very common ornamental plant, Catharanthus roseus is one of the most important botanical resources for modern medicine. It produces a large quantity of indole alkaloids, notably two essential chemotherapeutic compounds:
The entire plant is highly toxic if ingested directly, so it must be kept out of the reach of pets and children. The medicinal compounds are only safe after chemical isolation in specialised laboratories.
El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote
Pervinca, Vinca rosa, Pervinca rosa, Dominica
Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as Madagascar periwinkle, is a species of perennial herbaceous or shrubby plant in the Apocynaceae family. It is native and endemic to Madagascar, but is now widely cultivated in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions around the world thanks to its showy flowers and remarkable hardiness.
The flowers have five petals with a diameter of 2 to 5 cm. They come in a wide range of colours, from pure white to shades of pink, fuchsia, orange and red, often with a darker or contrasting centre.
Its leaves are oval or oblong, a very striking bright green, with a paler central vein.
It is highly prized in gardening due to its high tolerance to extreme heat, drought and poor-quality soils.
It requires full sun or partial shade to flower profusely. Water sparingly to moderately. It is essential to avoid waterlogging, as its roots are prone to rotting due to excess moisture.
It requires a well-drained growing medium. It grows well even in sandy or slightly infertile soils.
Despite being a very common ornamental plant, Catharanthus roseus is one of the most important botanical resources for modern medicine. It produces a large quantity of indole alkaloids, notably two essential chemotherapeutic compounds:
The entire plant is highly toxic if ingested directly, so it must be kept out of the reach of pets and children. The medicinal compounds are only safe after chemical isolation in specialised laboratories.
El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote
