草海桐

學名：Scaevola taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb.

科：草海桐科 Goodeniaceae

Morphology of the plant：The tree is 1 to 4 meters tall with soft, succulent branches that tend to grow in a dispersed manner. The leaves are alternate, spoon-shaped to ovate, leathery, and often clustered at the ends of branches. They are 10 to 25 cm in length and 4 to 8 cm in width. The inflorescences extend from the leaf axils, with fan-shaped corollas that are five-lobed and colored white, light yellow, or light purple. The corollas are about 2 cm wide with wavy-edged lobes. The fruit is a white drupe, ovoid in shape, with a diameter of 0.7 to 1 cm, and can be dispersed by tidal waters. The tree flowers and bears fruit throughout the year.

Adapted to aquatic environments：

Branches that come into contact with soil can grow rapidly, and the leaves are coated with a waxy layer, similar to waterproof paint, which reduces water evaporation. The leaves are also especially thick, enhancing their water storage capacity.

Distribution：

Originally from Kyushu, Ryukyu in Japan, the Pacific Islands, Madagascar, Australia, Mexico, and Guatemala, it is now found on rocky and coral reef uplifted coasts and islands throughout Taiwan.

Ecology：

Thrives on sandy beaches, coral reefs, and rocky coasts, and can be dispersed by tidal waters. Flowers and bears fruit throughout the year.

others：

There is a legend about the flower of the seaside clerodendrum, involving a tribal princess and her lover. When they had to part ways, the princess plucked a flower and split it in two as a token of their affection for each other. After her lover failed to return from a sea voyage, the princess waited by the sea day and night until she eventually passed away. Afterwards, the white flowers, resembling only half of the original bloom, began to appear along the seaside.