Meta or winter green Vinca is a genus of plants belonging to the family Apocynaceae of the order Gentianales. It includes six species that are native to Europe, Northwest Africa, and Southwest Asia. The scientific name of the genus comes from the Latin vincire: “to bind, to shackle”. Their two species, the large meteor and the small perch, are grown as ornamental plants. Because they spread rapidly with their creeping shoots, they are often used as mulch. Although its flowers provide a beautiful sight, they are sometimes considered an weed, an invasive plant because of their rapid spread and displacement of native species; affected areas include parts of Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Plants of the genus Vinca are also recommended as fire retardant ground cover.

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