Scaevola crassifolia
| Scaevola crassifolia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Goodeniaceae |
| Genus: | Scaevola |
| Species: | S. crassifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Scaevola crassifolia | |
 | |
| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Scaevola crassifolia, commonly known as thick-leaved fan-flower,[2] or cushion fanflower,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae, and is native to coastal areas of Western Australia and South Australia. It is an erect, low-lying or spreading shrub with egg-shaped to round, mostly toothed leaves, spikes of white, blue or pale purple flowers and spherical fruit.
Description
Scaevola crassifolia is an erect, low-lying or spreading shrub that typically grows up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) high and 3 m (9.8 ft) wide, apparently glabrous and sticky when young. Its leaves are egg-shaped to round, mostly toothed, 18–80 mm (0.71–3.15 in) long and 3–43 mm (0.12–1.69 in) wide. The flowers are borne in spikes 55 mm (2.2 in) long with leafy bracts at the base, on the ends of branches, the bracteoles linear to triangular and up to 4 m (13 ft) long. The sepals are fused, forming a tube 0.3–1 mm (0.012–0.039 in) long and the petals are white, blue or pale purple, 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long, glabrous or with short hairs on the outside, bearded inside with wings 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to January, and the fruit is spherical, up to 5 mm (0.20 in) long and rough with three to five swollen ribs and usually glabrous.[2][4]
Scaevola nitida is closely similar to S. crassifolia but is a larger shrub with thinner leaves.[5]
Taxonomy
Scaevola crassifolia was first formally described in 1805 by Jacques Labillardière in his Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.[6][7] The specific epithet (crassifolia) means 'thick-leaved'.[8]
Distribution and habitat
Thick-leaved fan-flower grows in sand on coastal dunes, plains and limestone cliffs from near Carnarvon in Western Australia to near Robe in South Australia.[2][4][3]
References
- 1 2 "Scaevola crassifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Scaevola crassifolia". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- 1 2 "Scaevola crassifolia". Seeds of South Australia. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- 1 2 Carolin, Roger C. "Scaevola crassifolia". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Barrett, Russell and Eng Pin Tay (2005) Perth Plants, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Perth Western Australia ISBN 1-87647-907-8
- ↑ "Scaevola crassifolia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Labillardière, Jacques (1805). Novæ Hollandiæ plantarum specimen. Paris: Ex typographia Dominæ Huzard. p. 56. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 174. ISBN 9780645629538.