Vinca major L.

Title: Vinca major L.

Scientific Name:

Vinca major L.

Common Names:

blue periwinkle

Source & more images (via ALA)

Habitat: Widely cultivated and has become a problem in various ecosystems, found primarily in damp and seasonally moist sites in forest, woodlands and heathlands, as well as along waterways and drainage lines (Muyt, 2001). It favours fertile soils and, while particularly vigorous in shade, will readily establish in open, sunny locations provided conditions are moist for much of the year (Muyt, 2001). Blue periwinkle invades dry coastal vegetation, heathland and heathy woodland, lowland grassland and grassy woodland, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, damp sclerophyll forest, riparian vegetation, and warm temperate rainforest (Carr et al., 1992).

Distribution:

Original source via GBIF

Invasiveness Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT

1. Germination requirements? “May be propagated by division, any single shoot with roots being dibbled in from autumn to early spring. The over wintering shoots of Vinca major can be cut away in late winter before new growth begins" (Huxley et al., 1992).

2. Establishment requirements? “Very shade tolerant” (Plants for a Future, 2001).

3. How much disturbance is required? Establishes in undisturbed/minor disturbed natural ecosystems; e.g. heathland; sclerophyll forest and woodland; riparian vegetation’ warm temperate rainforest. (Carr et al., 1992)

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE

4. Life form? Creeper (Page & Olds (eds), 1998)

5. Allelopathic properties? No allelopathic properties described.

6. Tolerates herb pressure? “Rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits” (Plants for a Future, 2001).

7. Normal growth rate? “It spreads rapidly by long trailing stems taking root at their tips and leaf nodes, it can be invasive. Once established it will swamp out smaller plants” (Plants for a Future, 2001).

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? “Drought and moderately frost resistant”.
Possibly also displays some salt resistance (occurs in ‘coastal areas’), and water logging (weed of
riparian areas). (Page & Olds (eds.), 1998; Carr et al., 1992; Bay of Plenty, n.d.).

REPRODUCTION

9. Reproductive system? Vegetative (Carr et al., 1992). Seed (Plants for the Future, 2001).

10. Number of propagules produced? “This species rarely if ever sets seed in Britain” (Plants for the Future, 2001). “It is not known if this species sets viable seed in Australia” (Northcote City Council, n.d.).

11. Propagule longevity? ?

12. Reproductive period? Can “form a thick smothering blanket…may spread over many square metres of forest floor” (Bay of Plenty, n.d.). Therefore form monocultures.

13. Time to reproductive maturity? Assumed no more than 1-2 years after germination. → “Spread rapidly, the shoots rooting as they progress” (Huxley et al., 1992).

DISPERSAL

14. Number of mechanisms? Wind (Carr et al., 1992). “Probably dispersed from dumping of garden waste and may be moved over land by road machinery > 200 m and soil disturbance along rivers” (Bay of Plenty, n.d.).

15. How far do they disperse? ?

Impact Assessment

RECREATION

1. Restrict human access? Perennial creeper capable of forming dense intertwined mats.
Mats known to grow to height of 50 cm. Unlikely, however, to restrict human access (Muyt, 2001;
Blood, 2001)

2. Reduce tourism? In dense infestations mats of periwinkle dominate the vegetation in the lower storey (Muyt, 2001). While the presence of this plant is quite noticeable, it would not inhibit recreational activities. Major effect to aesthetics.

3. Injurious to people? "Blue periwinkle is poisonous to sheep, cattle and horses if eaten... These plants are poisonous; about 90 alkaloids have been isolated from them," [i.e. Vinca genus] (Huxley, 1992). Ingestion of plants by humans is highly unlikely; no known problems relating to allergic reaction.

4. Damage to cultural sites? "It is found primarily in damp or seasonally moist sites in forests, woodlands and heathlands as well as along waterways and drainage lines" (Muyt, 2001). Dense mats would produce at least a moderate negative visual impact.

ABIOTIC

5. Impact flow? Terrestrial species.

6. Impact water quality? Terrestrial species.

7. Increase soil erosion? Extensive root system; dense mats would improve soil stability. Low probability of large-scale soil movement (Muyt, 2001).

8. Reduce biomass? "Blue periwinkle forms dense, intertwined low mats that completely smother then exclude all indigenous ground flora" (Muyt, 2001). Biomass is likely to increase due to the dense mats that periwinkle creates in the understorey.

9. Change fire regime? In the U.S., periwinkle is considered to have low flammability (Virginia Firewise Landscaping Task Force, 1998). Small or negligible effect on fire regime.

COMMUNITY HABITAT

10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC? EVC=Montane Grassy Woodland (E); CMA=East Gipplsand; Bioreg=East Gippsland Uplands; VH CLIMATE potential. "…dense intertwined low mats completely smother then exclude all indigenous ground-flora" (Muyt, 2001). Major displacement of dominant species in the herbaceous layer.

10(b) Impact on medium value EVC? EVC=Riparian Forest (R); CMA=East Gippsland; Bioreg=East Gippsland Uplands; VH CLIMATE potential. "…dense intertwined low mats completely smother then exclude all indigenous groundflora" (Muyt, 2001). It is, "…particularly vigorous in shade." Major displacement of dominant species in the herbaceous layer.

10(c) Impact on low value EVC? EVC=Riparian Forest (LC); CMA=North East; Bioreg=Highlands - Northern Fall; VH CLIMATE potential. "…dense intertwined low mats completely smother then exclude all indigenous groundflora" (Muyt, 2001). It is, "…particularly vigorous in shade." Major displacement of dominant species in the herbaceous layer.

11. Impact on structure? "Blue periwinkle forms dense, intertwined low mats that completely smother then exclude all indigenous groundflora and prevent any shrub or tree regeneration." (Muyt, 2001). Major impact on lower storey with possible implications for mid and upper stories.

12. Effect on threatened flora?

FAUNA

13. Effect on threatened fauna?

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? "It can form large dense mats often covering many square metres." (Blood 2001). The plant is known to be poisonous to sheep, cattle and horses; similar effect on fauna. Infestations lead to reduced habitat or food supply.

15. Benefits fauna? No documented benefits. The plant is poisonous. (Blood, 2001)

16. Injurious to fauna? Although it is known that periwinkle is poisonous to some stock, it is not known if fauna consume this species.

PEST ANIMAL

17. Food source to pests? The plant is poisonous; unlikely to be a food source to pest animals.

18. Provides harbor? Herbaceous perennial ground cover. Not known to provide harbour to pest animals.

AGRICULTURE

19. Impact yield? Not known as a weed of agriculture. An environmental weed (Randall 2002).

20. Impact quality? Not known as a weed of agriculture. An environmental weed (Randall 2002).

21. Affect land values? Not known as a weed of agriculture. An environmental weed (Randall 2002).

22. Change land use? Not known as a weed of agriculture. An environmental weed (Randall 2002).

23. Increase harvest costs? Not known as a weed of agriculture. An environmental weed (Randall 2002).

24. Disease host/vector? None documented.

Feedback

Do you have additional information about this plant that will improve the quality of the assessment? If so, we would value your contribution.

Assessment ratings originally made by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

The entry of this assessment was made possible through the generous support of The Weed's Network.

Attachments:

periwinckle via ala.JPG
Capture.JPG

referenced by (1)

wra825: Common Name - B (via blue periwinkle)

Article: wra3844 (permalink)
Categories: :wra:v, :wra:inv1, :wra:invmh, :wra:inv2, :wra:inv3, :wra:invh, :wra:inv4, :wra:invml, :wra:inv5, :wra:invl, :wra:inv6, :wra:inv7, :wra:inv8, :wra:inv9, :wra:inv10, :wra:invm, :wra:inv11, :wra:inv12, :wra:inv13, :wra:inv14, :wra:inv15, :wra:imp1, :wra:impl, :wra:imp2, :wra:impml, :wra:imp3, :wra:imp4, :wra:imp5, :wra:imp6, :wra:imp7, :wra:imp8, :wra:imp9, :wra:imp10a, :wra:impmh, :wra:imp10b, :wra:imp10c, :wra:imp11, :wra:imp12, :wra:impm, :wra:imp13, :wra:imp14, :wra:imp15, :wra:imph, :wra:imp16, :wra:imp17, :wra:imp18, :wra:imp19, :wra:imp20, :wra:imp21, :wra:imp22, :wra:imp23, :wra:imp24
Date: 9 November 2009; 9:56:54 AM AEDT

Author Name: Jessica Mackay
Author ID: mackayj