small genus of erect annual or perennial herbs native to Madagascar; widely naturalized in the tropics; formerly included in genus Vinca

Catharanthus (Madagascar Periwinkle) is a genus of eight species of herbaceous perennial plants, seven endemic to the island of Madagascar, the eighth, C. pusillus, from India and Sri Lanka. They were formerly included in the related genus Vinca. The name Catharanthus derives from the Greek meaning "pure flower".