VINCA, in botany: A genus of plants of the class pentandria, and order of monogynia; and in the natural system arranged under the 30th order, Contorta. The corolla is twisted; there are two erect follicles; the seeds are naked. There are five species; only two of which are natives of Britain:
St Vincent. Britain: 1. The major, great periwinkle. It has a woody, erect stem; leaves broader and sharper pointed; pedicles of the flowers straight, and calyx as long as the tube: otherwise like the former. 2. The minor, small periwinkle, has a woody, creeping, slender, crooked stem; leaves long, oval, entire, pointed, opposite, glossy. Flowers single, on long curved pedicles from the axils of the leaves, which are large and blue.