''Fieldia australis'', usually referred to as fieldia, is a small climbing plant or

epiphyte An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphyt ...

found in the

rainforests Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...

of eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, ranging from southeastern Queensland to Victoria. It is the sole species in genus ''Fieldia''.''Fieldia'' A.Cunn.
''

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

''. Retrieved 12 August 2024. Commonly seen in the cooler rainforests at higher elevations, it also grows in the warmer rainforests with a high humidity. The plant uses

adventitious Important structures in plant development are buds, shoots, roots, leaves, and flowers; plants produce these tissues and structures throughout their life from meristems located at the tips of organs, or between mature tissues. Thus, a living plant ...

roots to grip hold of tree trunks, mossy rocks or tree ferns. Leaves are 3 to 7 cm long 1 to 3 cm wide, reverse ovate or elliptical in shape with toothed edges. The leaf stem is around 8 mm long. Flowering occurs mostly in summer or autumn, being an attractive, relatively long thin white flower. The fruit is a whitish berry with some purple markings. Egg-shaped or oblong, 1 to 3 cm long, and around 11 mm in diameter.

Taxonomy

''Fieldia australis'' was originally described and placed in its own genus ''Fieldia'' by botanist Allan Cunningham in 1825. The name ''Fieldia'' honours

Barron Field Barron Field (Camp Taliaferro Field #2) is a former World War I military airfield, located West-southwest of Everman, Texas. It operated as a training field for the Air Service, United States Army between 1917 until 1921. It was List of airf ...

(1786–1846), judge of the

Supreme Court of New South Wales The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian States and territories of Australia, State of New South Wales. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil law (common law), civil matters, and hears ...

, amateur naturalist and editor of the book ''Geographical Memoirs on New South Wales'' in which the genus and species name were first published. A second species, ''Fieldia australiana'', was subsequently described.

treats ''F. australiana'' as ''Lenbrassia australiana'', the sole species in genus '' Lenbrassia''.''Lenbrassia australiana'' (C.T.White) G.W.Gillett
''

''. Retrieved 12 August 2024. File:Fieldia australis 1.jpg, flowering ''Fieldia'' at

Lamington National Park The Lamington National Park is a national park in the McPherson Range on the Queensland/New South Wales border in Australia. From Southport, Queensland, Southport on the Gold Coast, Australia, Gold Coast the park is to the southwest and Brisbane ...

File:Fieldia Mount Imlay.JPG, fruiting ''Fieldia'' at

Mount Imlay National Park Mount Imlay is a national park in New South Wales (Australia), 387 km south of Sydney, named after George Imlay, the Imlay brothers, who were early pioneers to the district. It is accessed from the Princes Highway, south of Eden, New South ...

References

Gesnerioideae Epiphytes Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Flora of Victoria (state) Endemic flora of Australia Plants described in 1825 Taxa named by Allan Cunningham (botanist) {{Gesneriaceae-stub