Scaevola aemula

Fairy Fan-flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Goodeniaceae
Genus: Scaevola
Species: S. aemula
Binomial name
Scaevola aemula
R.Br.[1]
Synonyms
  • Lobelia aemula (R.Br.) Kuntze
  • Merkusia sinuata (R.Br.) de Vriese
  • Scaevola sinuata R.Br

Scaevola aemula (Fairy Fan-flower or Common Fan-flower) is a small shrub in the family Goodeniaceae, native to southern Australia. It grows to 50 cm in height and produces white or blue flowers in spikes up to 24 cm long from August to March in its native range.[2] These are followed by rounded, wrinkled berries to 4.5 mm in length.[3]

The species occurs in Western Australia,[4] South Australia,[5] Victoria[3] and New South Wales.[3]

The species is thought to be the most commonly cultivated of the genus Scaevola, and a large number of cultivars have been developed.[6][7] Most of these are mat-forming to a height of 12 cm and spreading up to 1 metre in width. It prefers a sunny or partially shaded, well-drained position and tolerates salt spray and periods of drought.[7] Pruning and pinching of tip growth may be carried out to shape the plant.[7] Propagation is from cuttings or by layering.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Scaevola aemula". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. ↑ "Scaevola aemula". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  3. 1 2 3 "Scaevola aemula". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  4. ↑ "Scaevola aemula". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
  5. ↑ "Scaevola aemula". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia.
  6. ↑ "Scaevola aemula". Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP). Retrieved 2015-01-09.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Seale, Alan (1988). Garden Companion to Native Plants. Australia: Reed Books. ISBN 0730101878.


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