Scaevola glandulifera

Common Names

Viscid Hand-Flower

Summary

The viscid hand-flower is a Goodeniaceae shrub endemic to Western Australia, an erect plant up to 50 cm tall with non-ribbed stems. Leaves are stalkless, blade 2–9 cm long by 1–10 mm wide, margins smooth or toothed. Flowers occur in terminal spikes; the deep blue-purple corolla is 10–30 mm long, outside and inside hairy, with occasional longer stiff yellow hairs on the outside and bearded inside. The ovary has two locules; the indusium is 1.5–3 mm wide and hairy; fruit is obovoid up to 4 mm, optionally hairy. Flowering occurs August to December, sometimes January.

In cultivation, the plant grows on lateritic and granitic soils and occurs in Western Australia across IBRA regions including Geraldton Sandplains, Swan Coastal Plain, Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Warren, and Esperance Plains, indicating adaptation to a range of WA conditions.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-23.5 inches

Soil Type

Lateritic and granitic soils

Bloom Color

Deep blue-purple

Bloom Time

Winter, Spring, and Summer

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Winter