Homoranthus bebo
Homoranthus bebo is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in northern New South Wales. It is a low-lying shrub with leaves that are usually flat and with groups of up to ten yellow flowers. It is only known from the Dthinna Dthinnawan Nature Reserve near Yetman.[2][3]
Homoranthus bebo | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Homoranthus |
Species: | H. bebo |
Binomial name | |
Homoranthus bebo | |
Occurrence data from AVH |
Description
Homoranthus bebo is a small shrub 0.05–0.2 m (2–8 in) high and 0.5–2 m (20–80 in) wide with branches lying close to the ground. The leaves are narrowly egg-shaped, shiny, lime-green, 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, smooth, arranged in opposite pairs along a short stem with a short protruding point at the apex. The single lemon coloured five petal flowers are held erect in the leaf axils on a peduncle 0.7–1.7 mm (0.028–0.067 in) long. Flowering occurs mostly from September to November.[4]
Taxonomy and naming
Homoranthus bebo was first formally described in 2011 by Lachlan Copeland, Lyndley Craven and Jeremy Bruhl from a specimen collected in the Bebo State forest (now the Dthinna Dthinnawan Nature Reserve) in 2001 and the description was published in Australian Systematic Botany.[5] The specific epithet (bebo) refers to the name of the state forest where the type specimen was collected.[5]
Distribution and habitat
Currently known from a single population in Dthinna Dthinnawan Nature Reserve (formerly Bebo State Forest)~20km north-north east of Yetman New South Wales. This species grows in deep sandy soils over sandstone.[4]
Conservation
Homoranthus bebo is classified as "critically endangered" under the Australian Government EPBC Act of 1999.[6][7] It is known from a single population of at least 300 individuals.[4]
References
- "Homoranthus bebo". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- Wilson, Peter G. "Homoranthus bebo". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- Hunter, John (October 2016). "Mapping of Homoranthus bebo". Technical report.
- Copeland, Lachlan M.; Craven, Lyn A.; Bruhl, Jeremy J. (2011). "A taxonomic review of Homoranthus (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae)". Australian Systematic Botany. 24 (6): 351. doi:10.1071/SB11015.
- "Homoranthus bebo". APNI. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- "NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee - Preliminary determination" (PDF). New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- "Homoranthus bebo" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 23 August 2018.