Scaevola humilis

Scaevola humilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Goodeniaceae
Genus: Scaevola
Species:
S. humilis
Binomial name
Scaevola humilis
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms[1]
  • Lobelia humilis (R.Br.) Kuntze nom. illeg.
  • Merkusia humilis (R.Br.) de Vriese
  • Scaevola aemula auct. non R.Br.: Black, J.M. & Robertson, E.L. (1957), Flora of South Australia
Habit in the Yathong Nature Reserve

Scaevola humilis is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to arid areas of Australia. It is a low-lying or ascending herb with elliptic to narrowly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, spikes of blue or white flowers and hairy fruit.

Description

Scaevola humilis is a low-lying or ascending herb that typically grows to a height of 35 cm (14 in), has a woody base and is covered with fine, soft hairs or is almost glabrous. Its leaves are elliptic to narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 10–50 mm (0.39–1.97 in) long, 4–17 mm (0.16–0.67 in) wide, the edges coarsely toothed. The flowers are borne in spikes up to 150 mm (5.9 in) long, with leaf-like bracts and narrowly elliptic to lance-shaped bracteoles 6–9 mm (0.24–0.35 in) long. The sepals are fused at the base, broadly egg-shaped, 0.6 mm (0.024 in) long. The petals are blue or white, 12–23 mm (0.47–0.91 in) long, hairy on the outside, and densely hairy in the throat with wings up to 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide. Flowering mainly occurs from May to October, and the fruit is oval, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long, wrinkled and covered with soft hairs.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy

Scaevola humilis was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.[5][6] The specific epithet (humilis) means 'low' or 'small' in stature.[7]

Distribution and habitat

This species of scaevola grows in rocky or gravelly ranges in arid areas in the Northern Territory,[4] South Australia,[8] New South Wales north from Griffith and west from Dubbo and Boggabri[3] and Queensland.[9]

Conservation status

Scaevola humilis is listed as 'least concern' under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Scaevola humilis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Carolin, Roger C. "Scaevola humilis". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 Carolin, Roger C. "Scaevola humilis". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Scaevola humilis". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Scaevola humilis". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum. London: R. Taylor et socii. p. 585. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  7. ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 224. ISBN 9780645629538.
  8. ↑ "Scaevola humilis". Seeds of South Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Taxon – Scaevola humilis". Queensland Government WildNet. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
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