Scaevola albida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids White fan-flower
Scaevola albida growing in the ANBG
Appin, NSW
Scientific classification
Genus:	Scaevola (plant)
Species:	albida
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium
Synonyms
Goodenia albida Sm.

Scaevola albida, known by the common name of white fan-flower, is a prostrate shrub found in Australia, growing "from south-eastern Queensland through eastern New South Wales and coastal areas of Victoria and Tasmania in a range of habitats". Unlike most other species of Scaevola which grow into a bush, Scaevola albida is a ground cover, forming a mat on the ground around 30-40 centimetres across. Its leaves are bright green, semi-succulent and slightly hairy. They are of an elliptical shape with wavy edges.

In spring or early summer, the plant bursts into a striking mass of small flowers, which range in colour from snow white, through to pale blue or lilac. Each flower has five petals, which form together in clusters of around four or five flowers. In summer, these flowers turn to small papery, urn-like fruits, containing several flat, disc-like seeds. Scaevola albida germinates readily from fresh seed and also strikes easily from cuttings.