Bean, Homoranthus tricolor 
79 
K. D.Hill & L.A.S Johnson subsp. watsoniana, 
C. trachyphloia (F.Muell.) K.D.Hill & 
L. A.S.Johnson, Grevillea whiteana McGill., 
Acacia calantha Pedley and Callitris endlicheri 
(Pari.) F.M.Bailey. 
Phenology : Flowers are recorded for 
September only, but the flowering period 
would certainly extend to October. 
Notes : The nearest relative of Homoranthus 
tricolor is not clear. It seems closest to the 
species which have conspicuous, persistent 
bracteoles and laciniate sepals, in particular 
H. coracinus, H. darwinioides, H. decasetus 
and H. porteri. These species are closely 
allied to each other in the phenetic analysis of 
Copeland et al. (2007). 
Homoranthus tricolor is readily 
distinguished from these and all other 
Homoranthus species by its pendulous, 
often solitary flowers, large mainly-green 
bracteoles, red cylindrical hypanthium, black 
laciniate sepals, and petals mainly black but 
green at the distal end. H tricolor has great 
potential for horticulture as the flowers are 
well displayed, relatively large, and exhibit 
a variety of colours. Pollinators are not 
known, but native bees and other insects were 
observed visiting the flowers. 
Conservation status: The total known 
population is estimated to be approximately 
two hundred plants and is on a Grazing 
Homestead Perpetual Lease used for grazing 
cattle. Fire response is unknown. Some plants 
in the population have trunks around 50 mm 
diameter, and hence must be decades old. 
However, a variety of age classes are present. 
There is no evidence of a decline in numbers 
of mature individuals. 
The recommended conservation status 
using the Red List criteria (IUCN 2001) is 
Endangered (criterion D). 
Etymology : The Latin epithet tricolor 
(meaning three-coloured) alludes to the three 
distinct colours on the flowers, i.e. green, red 
and black. 
Acknowledgements 
I thank Will Smith for the illustration, Peter 
Bostock for the Latin diagnosis, and Trevor 
Ritchie for facilitating my visit to the type 
locality. 
References 
Bean, A.R. (2000). Homoranthus coracinus (Myrtaceae), 
a new species from Queensland. Austrobaileya 
5: 687-789. 
Copeland, L.M., Bruhl, J. J., Craven, L.A. & Brubaker, 
C.L. (2007). Phenetic analyses of Homoranthus 
(Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae) on the basis of 
morphology. Australian Systematic Botany 20: 
417-27. 
Craven, L.A. & Jones, S.R. (1991). A taxonomic review 
of Homoranthus and two allied species of 
Darwinia (both Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae). 
Australian Systematic Botany 4: 513-33. 
Hunter, J.T. (1998). Two new rare species of 
Homoranthus (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae) 
from the Northern Tablelands of New South 
Wales. Telopea 8: 35-40. 
Iucn (2001). IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. 
Version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival 
Commission. IUCN: Gland, Switzerland and 
Cambridge, U.K. 
