M. Thulin (2006) Catharanthus. Flora of Somalia 3: 124.
Plants perennial or annual herbs or subshrubs; latex white. Leaves opposite; stipules fiiiform. Inflorescences terminal or seemingly axillary cymes with 1-2 flowers. Calyces with narrow lobes; corollas slaviform, lobes mostly obliquely ovate; coronas absent; stamens usually inserted above the middle of the corolla tubes; ovaries of 2 free, narrowly oblong carpelts; styles with a cylindrical heads. Fruits of 2 cyldindrical follicles; seeds oblong, without tufts of hair.
Catharanthus includes about 10 species. One is native to India and Sri Lanka, the others to Madagascar. One species, Catharanthus roseus, is cultivated in both Somaliland and Somalia and throughout the topics.
Note: GBIF records include introduced and cultivated plants. Consequently, the distribution shown often differs from statements about a taxon's native distribution.