Scaevola ovalifolia
| Scaevola ovalifolia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Goodeniaceae |
| Genus: | Scaevola |
| Species: | S. ovalifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Scaevola ovalifolia | |
 | |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Scaevola ovalifolia, commonly known as bushy fanflower,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is a subshrub with sessile, egg-shaped to narrowly elliptic, hairy, sometimes toothed leaves, spikes of blue or mauve flowers, and oval fruit.
Description
Scaevola ovalifolia is a subshrub that typically grows up to 50 cm (20 in) high. Its leaves are sessile, egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, or narrowly elliptic, 8–55 mm (0.31–2.17 in) long, 4–21 mm (0.16–0.83 in) wide and hairy, sometimes with toothed edges. The flowers are arranged in spikes up to 20 mm (0.79 in) long with leaf-like bracts and linear bracteoles 4–15 mm (0.16–0.59 in) long. The petals are blue or mauve, 14–24 mm (0.55–0.94 in) long with simple hairs outside and densely bearded inside, and the ovary has two locules. Flowering occurs in most months and the fruit is oval, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and hairy.[3]
Taxonomy
Scaevola ovalifolia was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.[4][5] The specific epithet (ovalifolia) means 'oval-leaved'.[6]
Distribution and habitat
This species of Scaevola grows mostly on sand, sometimes on rocky hill slopes in the Northern Territory and in south-western Queensland.[3]
Conservation status
Scaevola ovalifolia is listed as 'least concern under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992[7] and the Northern Territory Government Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act.[2]
References
- 1 2 "Scaevola ovalifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Scaevola ovalifolia". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- 1 2 Carolin, Roger C. "Scaevola ovalifolia". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ "Scaevola ovalifolia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum. London: Typis R. Taylor et socii. 1810. p. 584. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 277. ISBN 9780645629538.
- ↑ "Taxon - Scaevola ovalifolia". Queensland Government WildNet. Retrieved 9 August 2026.