Periwinkle Lesser

Botanical Name: Vinca minor

Family: Apocyanceae  

Other Names: Blue buttons, cut finger, devil's eye, hundred eyes, joy on the ground, sorcerer's violet, St Candida’s eyes (Dorset, UK)

Habitat: Woods, scrub

Description: Evergreen, perennial hairless, spreading plant 5-20cm/2-8in. Leaves: in opposite pairs, ovate short stalked Flowers solitary, stalked blue, 5 stamens, 5 petals March – July Petals twist to the left in the bud Long underground stems

Native to: Europe

Cultivation: Moist well drained soil. Partially shaded 

Parts Used: Dried flowering herb

Harvesting: As required

Actions: Diuretic

Constituents: Alkaloids (vincamine, vincin, vincristine), bitters (vincine), tannin, pectin, carotine, flavonoids  

Traditional uses: Headaches, vertigo, poor memory, bleeding gums, diarrhoea

Skin: Rashes

Digestive: Diarrhoea

Nervous system: Headaches, tinnitus

Other Notes: The name Vinca comes from the Latin vincere which means to overcome 

Often found in cemeteries and used in children’s funerals

Symbolises virginity and eternity