Scaevola angulata

Scaevola angulata
In Kakadu National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Goodeniaceae
Genus: Scaevola
Species:
S. angulata
Binomial name
Scaevola angulata

Scaevola angulata is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to the Northern Territory, Australia. It is a straggling, spreading perennial shrub with more or less sessile, egg-shaped to narrowly oblong leaves and spikes of white to pale blue flowers.

Description

Scaevola angulata is a straggling, spreading, intricately branched perennial shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high and has striated stems. The leaves are more or less sessile, egg-shaped to narrowly oblong, mostly 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) wide, sometimes with a short petiole. The flowers are borne on terminal spikes up to 150 mm (5.9 in) long with leafy bracts at the base. The sepals are triangular, about 1 mm (0.039 in) long and joined forming a bell-shaped tube. The petals are 11–20 mm (0.43–0.79 in) long, white to pale blue and bearded inside, sometimes with yellow in the throat. Flowering occurs in most months, and the fruit is elliptic, 4 mm (0.16 in) long.[2][3]

Taxonomy

Scaevola angulata was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.[4][5] The specific epithet (angulata) means 'angled' or 'angular'.[6]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Scaevola grows on damp, sandy soils derived from sandstone in near-coastal areas, in open forest in the Top End of the Northern Territory and on Melville Island.[2][3]

Conservation status

Scaevola angulata is listed as of "least concern" under the Northern Territory Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Scaevola angulata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b Carolin, Roger C. "Scaevola angulata". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Scaevola angulata". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Scaevola angulata". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  5. ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 285. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  6. ^ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 132. ISBN 9780645629538.