Introduce Plants

Catharanthus roseus

Madagascar Periwinkle
NE
Not Evaluated
Malaysia Plant Red List
2010
QR Code
SSN 33491
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Taxonomy

  • Kingdom
  • Division
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Specific Epithet
    roseus (L.) G.Don
  • Synonym
  • Vernacular Name
  • Residential
    Introduce
The taxonomic status is pending for approval

Description

Catharanthus roseus is commonly known as Madagascar Periwinkle or Rosy Periwinkle. This species is known as Kemunting Cina in Malay. It is actually native to Madagascar, but has over time been widely cultivated and naturalized in most tropical countries where it sometimes becomes an unwanted weed.

This species belongs to the Apocynaceae family with the characteristic presence of white latex in its bark. It is classified as a semi-shrub and can grow up to about 100 cm tall. It has shining dark green leaves arranged in opposite pairs (Ng, 2006). The leaves are oval to oblong, with a light green midrib and a short petiole. The flower has 5 petals with a basal tube. The fruit is a pair of follicles.

In Malaysia, C. roseus is often cultivated as an ornamental plant in the home garden and in some public areas due to its ability to tolerate extreme conditions of drought and heavy rainfall and also because it flowers continuously throughout the year. The various beautiful colours of its flowers, such as pink, purple and white, has also made it a popular choice as an ornamental plant.

Assessment

Year Published Assessment Red List Category Version
2010 Malaysia Plant Red List
Not Evaluated (NE)
N/A

Location

by State Location
  • Johore 1
  • Pahang 2
  • Federal Territories of Putrajaya 1
Based on publications, specimens, and images

Biodiversity Experts

Profile
Ahmad Aldrie Amir (Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Evolution
  • Forest
  • History
  • Law and Policy
  • Management
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Protected Areas
  • Science
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
  • W
Anisah Lee Abdullah (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • Coral Reefs
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Geoinformatics
  • Management
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Protected Areas
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Water
  • PM
  • SBH
Asyraf Mansor (Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • Palms
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Evolution
  • Forest
  • PM
Chong Ju Lian (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
  • Mammals (Ecology)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Invasive Alien Species
  • Protected Areas
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Climate Change
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
  • W
Kartini Binti Saibeh (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
  • Vascular
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • SBH
Mohamad Azani Alias (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Vascular
  • Vascular
  • Amphibians
  • Amphibians
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Climate Change
  • Protected Areas
  • Forest
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
Mohd Fahmi Abu Bakar (Ts. Dr.)
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA)
  • Vascular
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Molecular
  • Systematics
  • PM
Mohd Norfaizal Ghazalli (Dr.)
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)
  • Vascular
  • Pitcher plants
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Science
  • Systematics
  • Taxonomy
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
Nazahatul Anis Amaludin (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • PM
Nor Ezzawanis Abdullah Thani (Mrs.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • PM
Nur Kyariatul Syafinie Abdul Majid (Ms.)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Forest
  • Protected Areas
  • PM
Nur Supardi Md Noor (Dr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
  • Palms
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Forest
  • Management
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
  • W
Rusea Go (Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
  • Orchids (Taxonomy)
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Environment
  • Forest
  • Management
  • Protected Areas
  • Climate Change
  • Invasive Alien Species
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
Tam Sheh May (Dr.)
Taylor's University
  • Orchids
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Data Analysis
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Molecular
  • PM
Tan Swee Lian (Dr.)
Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
Yong Kien Thai (Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
  • Moss
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Ferns (Taxonomy)
  • Protected Areas
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Evolution
  • Taxonomy
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
PM - Peninsular Malaysia; SBH - Sabah; SWK - Sarawak; SEA - Southeast Asia; W - World;

References

Article
  1. Latiff, A., Faridah-Hanum, I., Zainudin Ibrahim, A., Goh, M.W.K., Loo, A.H.B. & Tan, H.T.W. (1999). On the Vegetation and Flora of Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplements (6), 11-72
  2. Milow, P., Malek, S. & Ramli, M.R. (2017). Medicinal Plants of the Indigenous Tribes in Peninsular Malaysia: Current and Future Perspectives. Active Ingredients from Aromatic and Medicinal Plants. . https://doi.org/10.5772/66658
  3. Ong, H.C., Ruzalila, B.N. & Milow, P. (2011). Traditional Knowledge of medicinal plants among the Malay villagers in Kampung Tanjung Sabtu, Terengganu, Malaysia. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 10 (3), 460-465. https://umexpert.um.edu.my/file/publication/00002524_79593.pdf
  4. Senterre, B., Chew, M.Y. & Chung, R.C.K. (2015). Flora and vegetation of Pulau Babi Tengah, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. Check List: The Journal of Biodiversity Data 11 (4), 1-15
Book
  1. Health and Beauty from the Rainforest : Malaysian Traditions of Ramuan, 2009. Editions Didier Millet. pp. 256.
  2. Island Life: A Natural History of Pulau Tengah, Johor, Malaysia, 2018. WS Lifestyle, Singapore. pp. 163.
  3. Adler, P.H. (2002). A Guide to Taman Botani Putrajaya: Tropical Roots. Perbadanan Putrajaya, Malaysia. pp. 13.
  4. Boo, C.M., Omar-Hor, K. & Ou-Yang, C.L. (2003). 1001 Garden Plants in Singapore. National Parks Board, Singapore. pp. 501.
  5. Chang, Y.S., Mazura, M.P. & Nik Musa'adah, M. (2008). Plant, Health and Man - Past, Present and Future . Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan , Malaysia. pp. 343.
  6. Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G., Soepadmo, E. & Boyce, P.C. (2011). Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, Series II: Seed Plants, Volume 2. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 329.
  7. Maimon, A., Norhayati, A. & Latiff, A. (2017). Mekar Putrajaya: Putrajaya Blooms. Perbadanan Putrajaya, Putrajaya, Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 181.
  8. Mohtar, M., Nik Zanariah, N.M. & Norini, H. (2016). Herba Emas Negara. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 233.
  9. Ong, H.C. (2006). Tanaman Hiasan: Khasiat Makanan & Ubatan. Utusan Publications & Distribution Sdn. Bhd. , Malaysia. pp. 293.
  10. Phang, S.M., Affendi, Y.A., Ooi, J.L.S. & Haji, A.J.M. (2008). Natural History of The Pulau Tioman Group of Islands. Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), University of Malaya, Malaysia. pp. 292.
  11. Wong, K.M. (2001). Medicinal Plants, Rain Forests and Us. pp. 38.
  12. Yong, W.S.Y., Chua, L.S.L., Lau, K.H., Siti-Nur Fatinah, K., Cheah, Y.H., Yao, T.L., Rafidah, A.R., Lim, C.L., Syahida-Emiza, S., Ummul Nazrah, A.R., Nor-Ezzawanis, A.T., Chew, M.Y., Siti Munirah, M.Y., Julius, A., Phoon, S.N., Sam, Y.Y., Nadiah, I., Ong, P.T., Sarah Nabila, R., Suhaida, M., Muhammad-Alif Azyraf, A., Siti Eryani, S., Yap, J.W., Jutta, M., Azeman, S., Salleh, N., Kiew, R. & Chung, R.C.K. (2021). Malaysia Red List: Plants of Peninsular Malaysia, Volume 1, Issue/No. 1. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 107.
Chapter in book
  1. Milow, P., Malek, S. & Ramli, M.R. (March 2017). Medicinal Plants of the Indigenous Tribes in Peninsular Malaysia: Current and Future Perspectives. In El-Shemy, H. (Ed.), Active Ingredients from Aromatic and Medicinal Plants. InTechOpen. pp. 14.
Journal
  1. Asian Primates Journal, Volume 5, Issue 1, p. 48, 2015

Acknowledgements :- Mr. Abdul Razak Mohd Nor Rasid, Mr. Ahmad Amir Firdaus Bin Mad Apandi, Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Ms. Ainul Aqilah Binti Mohd Nasir, Mrs. Aziemah Binti Kinan, Mr. Badrul Amin Bin Jaffar, Mr. Hazri Bin Hanapy, Ms. Noorazila Binti Azmi, Ms. Noorkhalilie Binti Che Abd Aziz, Ms. Norazah Binti Norddin, Ms. Nur Diana Bt Mohd Rusdi, Ms. Nurfadzilah Bt Azmi, Ms. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Ms. Nurul Aliya Imra Asyikin Binti Abd Murad, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat, Ms. Vanessa Ting Ching Ching & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin

Photo credit :- Abdul Razak Mohd Nor Rasid & D.J. Middleton

Species Citation :- Catharanthus roseus. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/33491. [Retrieved 04 December 2023].

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