Periwinkle, or Myrtle, Vinca minor, is a common ground cover here in New Jersey. The opposite leaves are green all winter, but the flowers are just coming out now in early spring.
It is native to Europe, but is abundantly planted under trees in suburban neighborhoods. The color periwinkle was named for this flower.
The flowers have 5 petals, fused into a tube at the bottom, which open spirally from the buds. There are 5 green sepals, also united at the bottom, clasping the base of the flower.
It's related to Indian hemp (a dogbane), which is a common, poisonous, fall weed around here, but Periwinkle is not woody and has much showier flowers. I love the hints of white among the purple.
Elpel (pl 136) says that each flower produces two string-bean-shaped dried pods which split up the sides to release the seeds, but I've never seen them.
He also says it's an astringent, used for excess menstrual bleeding, ulcers, hemerrhoids and diarrhea. It might even work on headaches. But it also causes your hair tor fall out and reduces your white cell count, so probably not a good idea to try. Some chemotherapy drigs have been developed from it.
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