Scaevola coriacea is a prostrate perennial herb, displaying a sparse appearance due to its barely woody structure and long internodes. The leaves are simple and alternate, featuring obovate or spatulate blades 2–5 cm long and 1–2 cm wide. These leaves are succulent with a rounded apex, a base tapering to the petiole, and either glabrous surfaces or slightly scurfy. The leaf margins are either entire or display several minute indentations towards the apex, and petioles are 0.7–1.5 cm long, without stipules. The flowers, appearing in groups of 1–3 within axillary cymes that are 1–2 cm long, are supported by 6–16 mm long peduncles and are subtly pubescent. They are bisexual and exhibit a substantial irregularity with a minute, 5-parted calyx and a funnelform–unilabiate, 5-parted corolla. The corolla is yellowish-green externally, cream-colored within, and features lanceolate lobes approximately 10 mm long. The stamens are almost as long as the corolla tube, and the ovary is inferior and ovoid. The fruit is a 2-celled, dark purplish-black drupe, 5–10 mm long and about 5 mm wide, sparsely pubescent, containing numerous seeds with oily endosperm. It occurs in coastal sites, especially on consolidated dunes, with significant populations now restricted to stabilized coastal dunes.
Bean-shaped (Reniform): Resembling the shape of a kidney or bean.
Square or Oblong: Angular shape with all sides more or less equal or longer than wide.
Triangular: Three-sided shape, broadest below the middle.
Elliptic: Rounded at both ends. shaped like an ellipse or oval.
Ovate or Obovate: egg-shaped, broader at one end.
Linear: Extremely long and narrow, with sides usually parallel.
Round: Appears circular, with length and width roughly the same.
Cardioid (Heart-Shaped): One edge has a prominent double curve into two lobes.
Cylindrical: A cylinder with parallel sides and a circular cross-section.
Discoid: Resembling a disc or plate with two relatively flat surfaces.
Fusiform: Spindle-shaped, tapering at both ends.
Globose: Spherical.
Lenticular: Resembling a lens with two convex surfaces.
Ovoid: Egg-shaped.
Plano-convex: Having a flat ventral (planar) surface and a curved dorsal (convex) surface.
Polygonal: Having more than three flat faces meeting at angles.
Sectoroid: Resembling a segment of an orange with two relatively flat faces and one curved face.
Subglobose/ellipsoid: Inflated shape but less than spherical.
Trigonous: Having three faces that meet at a distinct angle; triangular in cross-section.
Endangered species (E) are species that are so rare they’re in danger of becoming extinct.
Threatened species (T) are species that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
Species of Concern (SOC) are species about which there are some concerns regarding status and threats, but insufficient information is available to list the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Plant Extinction Prevention (PEP) is a state status for rare plants that focuses its efforts on species that have fewer than 50 remaining wild individuals.
Orthodox seeds (desiccation-tolerant): can be dried to an internal seed moisture of less than 12% water and stored at freezing temperatures.
Intermediate seeds (temperature-sensitive) tend to age faster than orthodox seeds and may have only a 5-year lifespan when stored at -20°C. They are recommended for storage at 5°C.
Recalcitrant seeds (desiccation-sensitive): cannot be stored in a conventional freezer as they cannot survive after drying and/or freezing at -20°C. They are recommended for cryopreservation storage.