The species of Scaevola (Goodeniaceae) in 
Tasmania 
345 
Andrew C. Rozefelds 
Abstract 
Rozefelds, A.C. (Tasmanian Herbarium, CPO Box 252-04, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001 Australia) 2001 
The species of Scaevola (Goodeniaceae) in Tasmania. Telopea 9(2): 345-352. At least three species 
of Scaevola occur in Tasmania. Scaevola albida is extremely rare, and is known from two localities 
on Flinders Island and also from near Temma on the West Coast of Tasmania, and is restricted to 
coastal sandy soils. Scaevola aemula is uncommon in the State being restricted to doleritic soils in 
eastern Tasmania, and appears to have a disturbance-based ecology, appearing after fire or 
disturbance. Scaevola hookeri is a widespread, variable taxon in Tasmania, occurring from sub-alpine 
communities to sea level. Although S. calendidacea has been recorded from Tasmania, no supporting 
collections are lodged in the Tasmanian Herbarium, A key to the species in Tasmania is included, 
and recommendations are also provided regarding the appropriate conservation status for 
S. aemula, S. albida and S. calendulacea under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act (1995). 
Introduction 
Scaevola is a genus of c. 100 mainly tropical species, that is predominantly Australian 
(Carolin 1992a). In Tasmania, the number of species has been somewhat unclear. 
Curtis (1963) recorded four species; S. lwokeri (de Vriese) F.Muell. ex Hook.f., S. aemula 
R. Br., S. albida (Smith) Druce and S. calendulacea (Andrews) Druce. Carolin (1992a), in 
Flora of Australia, only listed S. hookeri as occurring in the State, although in the Flora 
of New South Wales (Carolin 1992b) he also recorded S. albida var. pallida from 
Tasmania. Buchanan (1999) noted that S. aemula also occurs in Tasmania, and in the 
absence of any verified collections of S. calendidacea and S. albida in the Tasmanian 
Herbarium concluded that both species had been recorded in error from the State. 
Recent collections have confirmed the presence of S. albida in Tasmania and provided 
new information on the ecology of these species 
In this paper the morphology, distribution, ecology and conservation status of these 
species in Tasmania is discussed. Flowers were examined with a scanning electron 
microscope and the specimens were critical-point dried, and placed onto aluminium 
stubs with tape. They were then sputter coated with gold and examined with a Philips 
Electroscan Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope 2020, under high vacuum 
operated at 10-15 kV. 
Collections in the National Herbarium of Victoria (MEL) have provided additional 
information on the ecology of S. aemula, and also the distribution of both S. aemula and 
S. albida in Tasmania. As this is the precursor treatment to the revised State flora, the 
descriptions are based primarily upon Tasmanian material. The nomenclature and 
classification follows Carolin (1992a) unless otherwise stated, and the Tasmanian 
biogeographical regions are those of Orchard (1988). Notes are included if the 
mainland Australian material differs from the Tasmanian collections. 
