Fieldia

Full name and orig. publication: Fieldia Cunn., in Field, Geogr. Mem. New South Wales 363, t. 2 (1825), non Fieldia Gaudich. (1825). 

Etymology: Named for Bar(r)ron Field (1786-1846), F.L.S., late Judge of the Supreme court of New South Wales, an enthusiastic amateur naturalist editing an important book on the natural history of New South Wales.

Synonyms: Basileophyta F.Muell. (1853).

Infrafamilial position: Coronantheroid Gesneriaceae (Gesnerioideae – Coronanthereae).

Description: Epiphytic, straggling and climbing suffruticose plant. Stem and branches slender, woody. Leaves opposite, distinctly anisophyllous; petiole short, lamina ovate to ovate-lanceolate, coarsely serrate, venation rather obscure. Flowers axillary, solitary, pendulous; bracteoles inserted below calyx, spathaceous. Sepals free, linear-lanceolate. Corolla pale yellowish-green, tube cylindrical, limb actinomorphic, lobes short, rounded, spreading. Stamens 4, included; filaments inserted at the very base of corolla tube, of nearly equal length; anthers small, subglobose, free; staminode present. Disc annular, adnate to ovary base. Ovary ovoid, style as long as corolla; stigma small, bilobed. Fruit an ovoid, spongy-subcarnose berry.

Chromosome number: 2n = ± 80.

Type and only species: Fieldia australis Cunn.

Species names (incl. publication and synonyms): See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005: World checklist of Gesneriaceae: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Checklist.

Distribution: SE Australia (SE Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales). 

Ecology: Occurring in montane rain forest, on trees and mossy rocks.

Notes: Burtt (1999) recently has included Lenbrassia into Fieldia, but this is in need of confirmation.

Selected references: Wiehler, Selbyana 6: 160 (1983); Burtt, Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 371-379 (1999), incl. of Lenbrassia.

Bibliography: See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005. Bibliography of the Gesneriaceae. 2nd edition: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Bibliography.

Illustrations:

Fieldia australis Cunn.

Left: Bot. Mag. t. 5089 (1858)
Right: cult. RBG Edinburgh, phot. A. Weber (1975)

 


last modified: 2007-01-05