Re: Vinca major or minor?
- Subject: Re: Vinca major or minor?
- From: Tony and Moira Ryan t*@xtra.co.nz
- Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2002 11:33:05 +1300
p.k.peirce@att.net wrote:
>
> To Alessandra and all,
>
> I am researching Vinca (major and minor) for a writing project. I have been
> trying to figure out if the one used in antiquity, as in ancient Rome, was
> Vinca major or V. minor, or both. I wondered if the answer is obvious to
> someone who lives in Italy (by the fact that only one is commmonly seen there
> now), or if the historical record reveals which one was grown then and used for
> garlands and wreaths. I have guessed it was V. major, since this one is the
> less hardy. Also because it is the one cited by traditional herbalists, so
> maybe the one first known, but would like to have sounder reasons to decide.
>
> Any thoughts or information appreciated.
>
Pam
I fear I can't give you anything definite, but it recalled happy times
as a student for me (over 50 years ago) when you mentioned gardens and
gardeners in ancient Rome which we just touched on.
I can't now say how I got the impression, perhaps it was something the
author said, but I have always imagined the Vinca used for instance by
the Elder Pliny in his garden was V major.
I know there are amazingly cunning ways these days of retrieving
information of this sort, but unless someone contemorary were to have
clearly described the two distinct species I cannot myself imagine how
one could ever be sure what was actually used.
Good luck in your researches.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
