Scaevola aemula
R.Br. Fairy Fan-flowerDecumbent or ascending herb to 50 cm high; stems coarsely hispid with yellowish appressed hairs. Leaves shortly petiolate, obovate, 1–9 cm long, 4–30 mm wide, obtuse or acute, both surfaces appressed-pubescent, margins (of at least the lower leaves) coarsely toothed. Flowers sessile, in terminal leafy or bracteate spikes to c. 24 cm long; bracteoles lanceolate, 4.5–8 mm long. Sepals connate at base, lobes triangular, c. 0.5 mm long, ciliate; corolla 16–25 mm long, appressed-pubescent outside, bearded inside, lilac to bright blue, rarely white, yellowish in throat, wings 1–1.5 mm wide; indusium depressed-obovate, with a posterior tuft of long purplish bristles and long white bristles around orifice. Fruit ovoid, 3–4 mm long, rugose, pubescent. Flowers mainly Sep.–Apr.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, GipP, Gold, GGr, DunT, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF. Also WA, SA, Qld, NSW, Tas. In Victoria mostly in dry inland parts of the west but also known from the Gembrook-Noojee area, Mount Burrowa and in the vicinity of Mallacoota Inlet. Usually on sandy soils in mallee formations or open-forests, but on loamy soils in eastern ranges, often colonizing bare ground.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Goodeniaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 589–615. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
