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

epiphyte An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a 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 epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

found in eastern

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

rainforests Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainforest ...

. Commonly seen in the cooler rainforests at higher altitudes. 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 a ...

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 one of thirt ...

(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 State of New South Wales. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. Whilst the Supreme Court i ...

, 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. File:Fieldia australis 1.jpg, flowering Fieldia at

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

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 the Imlay brothers, who were early pioneers to the district. It is accessed from the Princes Highway, south of Eden, New South Wales. Th ...

References

Gesnerioideae Epiphytes Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Flora of Victoria (state) Monotypic Lamiales genera Gesneriaceae genera {{Gesneriaceae-stub