Catharanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. Like the genus Vinca, they are known commonly as periwinkles. It is a perennial herb and a subshrub endemic to Madagascar,
thumb|Catharanthus pusillus
thumb|Catharanthus lanceus
Description
thumb|White Catharanthus roseus
Plants of Catharanthus are perennial herbs that are subshrubby, often with prostrate or erect stems that branch from the base of the plant. though one, C. roseus, is widely naturalized around the world. One species, C. pusillus, is native to India and Sri Lanka. The plant, as it has been observed up to this point, can inhabit up to 2000 m elevation, particularly those seen in the central plateau mountains. These alkaloids are typically used to treat cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and testicular cancer. A less commonly known alkaloid that the species holds is ajmalicine (found in the root), used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) (hyp and diabetes. Traditionally, the medicinal properties of the plant extend to treating hyperglycemia, asthma, hypertension, malaria, various infections, and many more.
Gallery
<gallery>
File:Catopsilia pyranthe male, Burdwan, West Bengal, India 14 09 2012.jpg|Catopsilia pyranthe, a butterfly sitting on Catharanthus roseus
File:Catharanthus roseus white and red 18042014 (1).jpg|Whitish-pink form of Catharanthus roseus
File:Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) 18.jpg|White form of Catharanthus roseus
File:Catharanthus roseus Blanco1.42.jpg|Two morphs of Catharanthus roseus and a leaf
File:Catharanthus roseus24 08 2012 (3).JPG|Catharanthus roseus buds
File:Catharanthus pusillus (Tiny Periwinkle) W2 IMG 3209.jpg|Catharanthus pusillus (Tiny periwinkle)
File:Catharanthus roseus ou La Pervenche de Madagascar 02.jpg|Pink form of Catharanthus roseus
File:2019-08-02 Catharanthus roseus, Ifaty, Madagascar 2.jpg|Catharanthus roseus in habitat in Ifaty
File:Vinca (Catharanthus) bed, Magee-Womens Hospital, 2021-08-12.jpg|Catharanthus roseus flowerbed
File:Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) 23.jpg|Light/dark pink form of Catharanthus roseus
</gallery>