Scaevola argentea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scaevola argentea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Scaevola (plant)
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| Species: |
argentea
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| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
The Scaevola argentea is a small, bushy plant that grows close to the ground. It is a type of shrub and belongs to a plant family called Goodeniaceae.
About the Scaevola Plant
This plant is a low-growing shrub, meaning it spreads out rather than growing tall. It usually reaches a height of about 15 centimeters (about 6 inches). The plant has a unique look because it's covered in silvery hairs, making it appear shiny.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Scaevola argentea are directly attached to the stem without a stalk. They are shaped like an oval or wider at the top, and can be either smooth or have small teeth along their edges. Each leaf is usually between 8 and 20 millimeters long and 3 to 13 millimeters wide.
The flowers grow in tight groups that look like spikes. These flowers have small, oval-shaped leaves called bracts around them. The flowers themselves are about 8 to 13 millimeters long. They are covered in silvery hairs on the outside and have a fuzzy inside. Their color can range from light purple to blue.
Fruit
After the flowers, the plant produces small, oval-shaped fruits. These fruits are about 2 millimeters long. They can be smooth or have small ridges, and sometimes they are also covered in fine hairs.
Where Scaevola Grows
The Scaevola argentea plant is found only in Western Australia. You can find it growing in the area between the towns of Ravensthorpe and Ongerup. It likes to grow in sandy areas, especially in places with lots of heath plants.
What's in a Name?
The second part of the plant's name, argentea, comes from a Latin word. In Latin, argenteus means silver or silvery-white. This name perfectly describes the plant's silvery, hairy appearance!
