Flora of Australia Online

Scaevola aemula R.Br., Prodr. 584 (1810)

Lobelia aemula (R.Br.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 378 (1891). T: Bay X, South Coast, [Port Lincoln, S.A.], Mar. 1802, R.Brown ; lecto: BM, fide R.C.Carolin, Telopea 3: 506 (1990); isolecto: K, MEL.

Scaevola sinuata R.Br., Prodr. 584 (1810); Merkusia sinuata (R.Br.) de Vriese, Ned. Kruidk. Arch. 2: 160 (1851). T: Goose Island Bay, [W.A.], May 1803, R.Brown ; lecto: BM, fide R.C.Carolin, Telopea 3: 506 (1990); isolecto: K, MEL.

Illustration: E.R.Rotherham et al., Fl. Pl. New South Wales & S. Queensland 79, fig. 228 (1975).

Ascending to decumbent herb to 50 cm tall; stems coarsely yellowish-brownish hirsute. Leaves obovate, tapering towards base, dentate; lamina 10–88 mm long, 4–31 mm wide. Flowers in spikes to 24 cm long; bracts leaf-like but smaller; bracteoles lanceolate, 4.5–7 mm long. Sepals broadly deltoid, to 0.5 mm long, ciliate, basally connate. Corolla 17–25 mm long, with appressed hairs outside, bearded inside, blue or white; barbulae few, simple; wings 1–1.5 mm wide. Ovary 2-locular; indusium to 1.5 mm long, stiff purplish beard ±equalling bristles on lips. Fruit ovoid, to 4.5 mm long, rugose, pubescent with short hairs, with 2 sterile cavities. Fig. 37B.

Occurs in south-eastern Australia, from Eyre Peninsula, S.A., through Vic. to Mt Warning in northern N.S.W. Flowers chiefly Aug.–Mar. Map 158.

S.A.: Pinkawillinie, K.D.Rohrlach 313 (AD); near The Gap, Naracoorte, D.Hunt 2037 (AD). N.S.W.: Bodalla, Nov. 1911, J.L.Boorman (NSW); Yadboro, Clyde R., R.C.Carolin 3927 (SYD). Vic.: Kongal Rocks, The Grampians, Mt Zero–Stapylton area, A.C.Beauglehole 17862 (MEL).

The coarse usually yellowish or brownish hairs distinguish this species from others in this series. It has been confused with S. ramosissima but that species has a short, white beard on the upper side of the indusium. See also S. cuneiformis and S. humilis. It is possible that this species occurs on the Archipelago of the Recherche in W.A. but the few specimens from there are not complete enough to be identified with certainty.