Vinca Major, also known as Pervinca, is a flower which belongs to the group Hemicryptophytes and is characterized as a perennial plant, that is, a plant species with a long life cycle, which can last up to two years.
Vinca Major belongs to a botanical family called Apocynaceae. That includes five subfamilies - Rauvolfioideae, Apocynoideae, Periplocoideae, Secamonoideae and Asclepiadoideae.
Apocynaceae are present on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. They can be found in the country outside, with more records in the north of Portugal in the Portuense area. The places where they remain are wetlands with the presence of water courses. However, in coastal areas, some Apocynaceae are present in the dune vegetation.
Their pollination, that is, the transfer of male reproductive cells through the pollen grains, located in the anthers of the flower, to the female recipient of another flower, or even to their own stigma. Thus, it is possible to admit that this transference is the sexual act of spermatophyte plants.
A curiosity about the process of pollination is that there are biotic factors - if the transfer of pollen happens with the help of living beings, or abiotic factors - if this transfer is through environmental factors. Thus, the transfer of the pollen can be done through the wind - Anemofilia, can be made through insects (bees, flies) - Entomophilia, or with the help of beetles - Cantarofilia. In addition, it can be through butterflies - Psicofilia, by butterflies - Falenofilia, by birds - Ornitofilia. Pollination can also be done through amphibians or reptiles - Herpetophilia, or even bats - Chiroptera. Through water is designated as Hydrophilia and through Artificial Man. Subsequent to these hypotheses may be self-pollination, that is, when a flower receives its own pollen.
The Vinca Major flower has countless benefits in social life. We highlight some utilities that the species which belong to this family have: they are excellent sources of fiber for artisanal ropes, they have strong branches and are flexible when used for fishery, besides having the advantage of being cultivated and commercialized as ornamental plants. In addition, it provides wood for construction as well as the production of furniture. Adding to the fact that the latex they have allows the creation of rubber.
Its flowering season is between March and June, blooming subtly in a very particular blue hue. In the city of Porto, it can be found around Avenida dos Aliados, Campo 24 de Agosto or Jardim do Marquês.
Written by: Marta Santos
Photos by: Júlia Aguiar
Translated by: Luiza Macedo
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