Family: Goodeniaceae
Author: (L.) Vahl
Bibliography: Symb. Bot. 2: 36 (1791)
Year: 1791
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Scaevola
Vegetable: False
Observations: Tropics & Subtropics
Description
Gullfeed is a resilient and intriguing plant that boasts the scientific name Scaevola plumieri. Endowed with enduring charm, this plant belongs to the Goodeniaceae family and was first classified and described in the comprehensive botanical work “Symb. Bot.” in 1791, authored by (L.) Vahl.
This species thrives predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions, demonstrating its adaptability to warm climates. Scaevola plumieri‘s robust nature makes it a significant plant in coastal and dune ecosystems, where it often plays a vital role in stabilizing sand dunes and contributing to the local biodiversity.
The plant is also known for its distinctive characteristics, such as its fleshy, succulent-like leaves and stunning, fan-shaped flowers. These flowers are typically white but can sometimes present a hint of creamy yellow, attracting various pollinators, including bees and butterflies. The unique half-flower shape also gives it a peculiar beauty that stands out in any natural setting.
Gullfeed’s ability to tolerate saline conditions and poor, sandy soils makes it an excellent candidate for ecological restoration projects. Its presence is not just vital for aesthetic and ecological purposes but also for the preservation of coastal areas against erosion.
In summary, Gullfeed (Scaevola plumieri) is a remarkable plant that not only adds beauty to its native tropical and subtropical habitats but also plays a crucial ecological role in maintaining the integrity of coastal ecosystems.
Common Names
Eng: gullfeed, gull feed, inkberry, beach lobelia
Fra: cerise bord de mer, prune bord de mer
En: Gullfeed, Beachberry, Inkberry, Scaevola, Half-flower, Gull Feed, Beach lobelia, Plumier’s Naupaka
Af: Seeplakkie
Fr: Cerise bord de mer, Prune bord de mer, Scaevola de Plumier
Ko: 초해동
Synonyms
- Scaevola sieberi (de Vriese)
- Scaevola thunbergii (Eckl. & Zeyh.)
- Scaevola lobelia (L.)
- Scaevola senegalensis (C.Presl)
- Scaevola sericea var. taccada ((Gaertn.) Makino)
- Scaevola uvifera (Stocks)
- Scaevola uniflora (Stocks)
- Scaevola ivifolia (L’Hér. ex Sweet)
- Scaevola macraei (de Vriese)
Distribution
- Andaman Is. (native)
- Angola (native)
- Bahamas (native)
- Benin (native)
- Bermuda (native)
- Brazil Northeast (native)
- Brazil South (native)
- Brazil Southeast (native)
- Cambodia (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Cayman Is. (native)
- Chagos Archipelago (native)
- Congo (native)
- Cuba (native)
- Dominican Republic (native)
- Ecuador (native)
- Florida (native)
- Gabon (native)
- Galápagos (native)
- Ghana (native)
- Guinea (native)
- Guinea-Bissau (native)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
- Haiti (native)
- Ivory Coast (native)
- Jamaica (native)
- Kazan-retto (native)
- Kenya (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Leeward Is. (native)
- Liberia (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Madagascar (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Mauritius (native)
- Mexican Pacific Is. (native)
- Mexico Central (native)
- Mexico Gulf (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Mexico Southeast (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Mozambique Channel I (native)
- Netherlands Antilles (native)
- Nicobar Is. (native)
- Nigeria (native)
- Ogasawara-shoto (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Puerto Rico (native)
- Réunion (native)
- Senegal (native)
- Sierra Leone (native)
- Solomon Is. (native)
- Somalia (native)
- South China Sea (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Texas (native)
- Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
- Venezuela (native)
- Venezuelan Antilles (native)
- Vietnam (native)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Apr 30, 2022 by Robert BRUNET (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 2020 by Virginie Trahand (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 19, 2022 by cañas escrich (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 18, 2021 by k sullivan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 18, 2021 by k sullivan (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Dec 25, 2021 by Benjamin BM3 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 25, 2022 by Nelly Grosset (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 20, 2021 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 28, 2021 by Connie Eli (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 13, 2022 by Wuppermann Cornela (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Feb 13, 2012 by EOL − Ton Rulkens (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 5, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Fred POUGET (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 1, 2015 by EOL − Chuck Sexton (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Stefaan Dondeyne (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jul 20, 2021 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Dec 21, 2021 by Fernández Juan David (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 30, 2020 by Eric (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 14, 2015 by EOL − Jorge Armín Escalante Pasos (cc-by)
Taken Oct 18, 2014 by EOL − Jorge Manuel Gómez Poot (cc-by-nc)
Taken Nov 1, 2015 by EOL − Chuck Sexton (cc-by-nc)
Bark
Taken Jan 23, 2020 by Sil Vestre (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5407597)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:384294-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Scaevola plumieri (L.) Vahl)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Subshrub, Shrub, Forb/herb
