Scaevola aemula

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For other uses, see Scaevola.

Fairy fan-flower
Scaevola aemula Botanical Garden Heidelberg.JPG
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Goodeniaceae
Genus: Scaevola
Species:
S. aemula
Binomial name
Scaevola aemula
R.Br.[1]
Scaevola aemula DistMap2.png
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms
  • Lobelia aemula (R.Br.) Kuntze
  • sinuata (R.Br.) de Vriese
  • Scaevola sinuata R.Br

Scaevola aemula, the 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[2] in spikes up to 24 cm long from August to March in its native range.[3] These are followed by rounded, wrinkled drupes to 4.5 mm in length.[4] It can also be found in Western Australia,[5] South Australia,[6] Victoria[4] and New South Wales.[4]

The species is thought to be the most commonly cultivated of the genus Scaevola, and a large number of cultivars have been developed.[7][8] 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.[8] Pruning and pinching of tip growth may be carried out to shape the plant.[8] Propagation is from cuttings or by layering.[8]

Examples of cultivated Scaevola aemula
Blue Scaevola aemula flowers
Blue S. aemula flowers, near Parliament House, Melbourne
Light purple Scaevola aemula flowers
Purple S. aemula flowers, United States Botanic Garden
Purple Scaevola aemula flowers
Purple S. aemula flowers, Strawbery Banke

References[]

  1. ^ "Scaevola aemula". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. ^ "Blaue Fächerblume" (in German).
  3. ^ "Scaevola aemula". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  4. ^ a b c "Scaevola aemula". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  5. ^ "Scaevola aemula". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  6. ^ "Scaevola aemula". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia.
  7. ^ "Scaevola aemula". Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP). Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d Seale, Alan (1988). Garden Companion to Native Plants. Australia: Reed Books. ISBN 0730101878.
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