periwinkle

periwinkle¹

/per"i wing'keuhl/, n.

1. any of various marine gastropods or sea snails, esp. Littorina littorea, used for food in Europe.

2. the shell of any of these animals.

[1520-30; perh. reflecting (through assimilation to PERIWINKLE²) OE pinewincle, equiv. to pine ( < L pina < Gk pîna, var. of PÍNNA kind of mollusk) + wincle, c. dial. Dan vinkel snail shell]

periwinkle²

—periwinkled, adj.

/per"i wing'keuhl/, n.

1. Also called myrtle. a trailing plant, Vinca minor, of the dogbane family, having glossy, evergreen foliage and usually blue-violet flowers.

2. any of several similar plants of the genus Vinca or Catharanthus.

[bef. 1000; earlier pervinkle, perwinkle, alter. (see -LE) of ME perwinke, pervinke < AF pervenke (OF pervenche) < LL pervinca, L vi(n)capervi(n)ca; cf. OE peruince, MHG ber(e)winke < LL pervinca]

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I

In botany, any of various plants of the genus Vinca of the dogbane family.

The lesser periwinkle (V. minor), which has small lilac-blue flowers, is a dependable, trailing, evergreen perennial that is native to Europe and has become widespread over much of eastern North America. The greater periwinkle (V. major), with larger leaves and larger purplish-blue flowers, is native to continental Europe and has become naturalized in England. Alkaloids derived from the periwinkle plant have had some success in inhibiting cancer growth.

II

In zoology, any of some 80 species (family Littorinidae) of widely distributed, chiefly herbivorous shore snails.

Periwinkles are usually found on rocks, stones, or pilings between high-and low-tide marks. The common periwinkle (Littorina littorea), the largest northern species, may grow to 1.5 in. (4 cm) long. It is usually dark gray and has a solid spiral shell. Introduced into North America с 1857, it is now common on Atlantic coasts. All periwinkle species are a favourite food of many shorebirds.

Periwinkles (Littorina)

Jane Burton

Bruce Coleman Ltd.

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▪ marine snail

 in zoology, any small marine snail belonging to the family Littorinidae (class Gastropoda, phylum Mollusca). Periwinkles are widely distributed shore (littoral) snails, chiefly herbivorous, usually found on rocks, stones, or pilings between high- and low-tide marks; a few are found on mud flats, and some tropical forms are found on the prop roots or mangrove trees. Of the approximately 80 species in the world, 10 are known from the western Atlantic. The common periwinkle, Littorina littorea, is the largest, most common and widespread of the northern species. It may reach a length of 4 centimetres (1 ¹/₂ inches), is usually dark gray, and has a solid spiral (turbinate) shell that readily withstands the buffeting of waves. Widespread along the rocky shores of northern Europe, the common periwinkle was introduced into North America at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in about 1857 and has spread as far south as Maryland. It is very common on the rocky shores of New England and also occurs on shallow muddy bottoms, along the banks of tidal estuaries, and among the roots and blades of marsh grass where the water is only moderately salty.

      The breeding habits of periwinkles are quite variable. L. saxatilis, which lives high up on rocks and is often out of water for long periods of time, holds its embryos in a brood sac until the young are fully developed, at which time they emerge as tiny crawling replicas of the adult. L. littorea releases its embryos in transparent, saucer-shaped egg cases, which eventually release veliger larvae. Other species deposit their embryos with gelatinous egg masses onto rocks and other hard substrates.

      All species in the Littorinidae are important as a favourite food of many shore birds, particularly ducks.

      Certain other marine snails, such as the common northern lacuna (Lacuna vincta), are sometimes called periwinkles. In many sections of the southern United States, the term periwinkle, or pennywinkle, is applied to any small freshwater snail.

▪ plant

 in botany, any of various plants of the genus Vinca of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). The name periwinkle is possibly taken from pervinka, the Russian name of the flower, which in turn is derived from pervi, “first,” as it is one of the first flowers of spring. The lesser periwinkle (V. Minor), with lilac-blue flowers, 2 centimetres (³/₄ inch) across, an evergreen, trailing perennial, is native to Europe and is found in the British Isles. Introduced into North America, it is now widespread over much of the eastern continent. The similar greater periwinkle (V. major), with purplish-blue flowers, 2 ¹/₂ to 5 cm across, native to continental Europe, has become naturalized in England.

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