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periwinkle

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.04 sec.

periwinkle, in zoology

periwinkle, any of a group of marine gastropod gastropod, member of the class Gastropoda, the largest and most successful class of mollusks (phylum Mollusca ), containing over 35,000 living species and 15,000 fossil forms.
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 mollusks having conical, spiral shells. Periwinkles feed on algae and seaweed. They are found at the water's edge; out of water, they resist drying by closing themselves into the shell with a horny plate. The edible European species, called the common periwinkle, has become well established on the Atlantic coast of North America. About 12 other species are found on rocky beaches of both the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts. Periwinkles are classified in the phylum Mollusca Mollusca (məlŭs`kə)
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, class Gastropoda, order Mesogastropoda, family Littorinidae, genus Littorina.

periwinkle, in botany

periwinkle, in botany: see dogbane dogbane, common name for some members of the Apocynaceae, a family of herbs, shrubs, and trees found in most parts of the world but especially in the tropics, where they are often climbing forms. Many species are native to or naturalized in North America.
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periwinkle

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.


periwinkle

Enlarge picture
Periwinkles (Littorina)
(credit: Jane Burton—Bruce Coleman Ltd.)
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 c. 1857, it is now common on Atlantic coasts. All periwinkle species are a favourite food of many shorebirds.


periwinkle12
any of various edible marine gastropods of the genus Littorina, esp L. littorea, having a spirally coiled shell
2. 
a. a light purplish-blue colour
b. (as adjective): a periwinkle coat

periwinkle
any of several Eurasian apocynaceous evergreen plants of the genus Vinca, such as V. minor (lesser periwinkle) and V. major (greater periwinkle), having trailing stems and blue flowers


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Periwinkle is very much grown, and is expected to shut up her baby house and throw away her doll in a month or two more.
"I should like to be a periwinkle," said he, mysteriously, "on the top of a valley, and sing tooralloo-ralloo.
For December, and January, and the latter part of November, you must take such things as are green all winter: holly; ivy; bays; juniper; cypress-trees; yew; pine-apple-trees; fir-trees; rosemary; lavender; periwinkle, the white, the purple, and the blue; germander; flags; orangetrees; lemon-trees; and myrtles, if they be stoved; and sweet marjoram, warm set.
 
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