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  Vivacious Vinca  

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Uploaded: 08/29/08 7:19 PM GMT
Vivacious Vinca
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This red Vinca is a cousin of the rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), native only to the tropical forests of Madagascar. This pretty plant gives us two very important cancer-fighting medicines: vinblastine and vincristine.

Vinblastine has helped increase the chance of surviving childhood leukemia from 10% to 95%.

Vincristine is used to treat Hodgkins' Lymphoma.

Traditional Madagascan healers used the rosy periwinkle for treating diabetes. This led to its study by western scientists who then discovered its anti-cancer properties.

The Madagascan harvest of this plant from the rain forests produces more than $150 million dollars of income for one of the worlds poorest countries.

Oklahoma is OK to visit, but it is great to be home again and posting among my friends. Many thanks for all the well wishes. -- don

Comments

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::SEFA
08/29/08 8:28 PM GMT
This is beautiful Don! Love the flower and your capture of it. I loved it even more after reading your narrative. Amazing that this beauty can save the lives of humans suffering from cancer.
Thank´s for posting!
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SEFA
.TheWhisperer
08/29/08 8:45 PM GMT
What a lovely flower with more to it than meets the eye!! Great narative Don which is amazing, but also lovely macro with beautiful colour and clarity too. Well done!
Ann
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.Ramad
08/29/08 9:36 PM GMT
Lovely flower very well photographed. The details on the leaves are also very clear. Very good shot!
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If practice makes perfect and nobody is perfect, then why practice?
.Genver
08/29/08 9:49 PM GMT
Very nice flower and green leaves,the picture is very good.
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::gonedigital
08/29/08 10:18 PM GMT
Ditto Jerome comment ^ above ^
Your such a knowledgeable man, & it's good to see another post from you Don.
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Big brother's watching you :o) A mistreated dog should try to leave a deposit on their masters best carpet, after all it's important to establish who's boss ... Welcome to the last resort. :o)
::Rokh
08/29/08 11:25 PM GMT
Great shot and superb narrative Don! Thanks a lot!
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.muki7
08/29/08 11:53 PM GMT
A well captured and colourful shot Don, And a good narrative.
A great post

Ed
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After 50 years of photography I shoot for memories not perfection
.Homtail
08/30/08 8:11 AM GMT
Wow, those contrasting colours of the vivid pink and green look almost acidic. Great work.
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He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom i trust". Psalm 91: 1 and 2
.Inkeri
08/30/08 11:11 AM GMT
Love the colors..A Beautiful capture,Don.
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.corngrowth
08/30/08 1:29 PM GMT
Thanks Don for both an interesting narrative and a beautiful image. Lighting, contrast and colours are perfect (as usual).
Very good post!
Regards, Cornelius.
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Cornelius was here! (lol) Click HERE to see his work!
::jeenie11
08/30/08 2:37 PM GMT
i don't think i've seen this color vinca. beautiful detail in the petals.
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sorry if i don't comment on each of your pictures. to those of you who comment so often, i can't imagine how you get it done! i for one am always extremely grateful for the kind comments and suggestions that you make. Please Visit My Gallery
.Roseman_Stan
08/31/08 2:03 AM GMT
Fine shot again Don. Excellent narrative too. We are given many things that we just do not recognize for the gifts that they are...

Stan
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“Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you” - Richard Brinsley Sheridan
.Olaus
08/31/08 4:08 PM GMT
Interesting flower.Beautiful shot.
Christer
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::biffobear
08/31/08 4:26 PM GMT
Nice pic Don.
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Cheap thrills are always expensive.

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