Rhabdothamnus

Etymology: From the Greek ράβδος, rhabdos = twig, birch, and θάμνος, thamnos = shrub, in allusion to the strongly twiggy habit of the shrubby plant.

Synonyms: -

Infrafamilial position: Coronantheroid Gesneriaceae (Gesnerioideae – Coronanthereae).  

Description: Shrub to 2 m tall, much-branched, scabrous. Leaves small, opposite, petiolate, lamina broad-ovate to suborbicular, coarsely serrate-dentate, greyish-green by dense indumentum. Flowers axillary, solitary, nodding. Sepals equal, connate at base, ovate or triangular-acuminate, persistent. Corolla orange with red veins, or brick-red, subcampanulate; tube broad, limb obscurely bilabiate, lobes spreading, ciliolate. Stamens 4, filaments inserted on corolla tube, long, slender, incurved above; anthers cruciately paired, coherent. Nectary obscure, adnate. Ovary superior, ovoid; style long, curved; stigma inconspicuous, obscurely bilobed. Fruit an ovoid capsule, dehiscence by 4 valves.

Chromosome number: 2n = ± 74.

Type and only species: Rhabdothamnus solandri 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: New Zealand (North Island). 

Ecology: Occurring in coastal and lowland temperate rain forests, growing especially by streamsides.

Notes: The flower color suggests pollination by birds.

Selected references: Allan, Fl. New Zeal. 1: 953-954 (1961); Wiehler, Selbyana 6: 160 (1983).

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