Fairy Bells - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Homoranthus darwinioides

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 29 Jun 2022

Description

Slender hairless shrub, characterised by its distinctive drooping flower heads, each consisting of two flowers on a stalk. Leaves are linear, cylindrical, 2-5 mm long in some populations, 6-11 mm long in others.

Distribution

Rare in the central tablelands and western slopes of NSW, occurring from Putty to the Dubbo district. It is found west of Muswellbrook between Merriwa and Bylong, and north of Muswellbrook to Goonoo SCA. The species has been collected from Lee’s Pinch, but not relocated at its original locality north of Mt Coricudgy above the headwaters of Widden Brook.

Habitat and ecology

Grows in in various woodland habitats with shrubby understoreys, usually in gravely sandy soils. Landforms the species has been recorded growing on include flat sunny ridge tops with scrubby woodland, sloping ridges, gentle south-facing slopes, and a slight depression on a roadside with loamy sand.
Associated species include Callitris endlicheri, Eucalyptus crebra, E. fibrosa, C. trachyphloia, E. beyeri subsp. illaquens, E. dwyeri, E. rossii, Leptospermum divaricatum, Melaleuca uncinata, Calytrix tetragona, Allocasuarina spp. and Micromyrtus spp.
Flowers in spring or from March to December.
The species has been cultivated in Sydney from Rylstone cuttings and at Burrendong Arboretum near Wellington.
Forms small shrubs or shrublets, often in tangled masses. It has a localised distribution and may be the dominant undershrub at some sites. Its abundance in populations ranges from rare (only one plant at site) to locally very abundant.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Threat of localised extinction due to the small population size and species susceptibility to catastrophic events such as fire, clearing, mining, and logging.
Feral animal and stock impacts (grazing and trampling).
Rabbit activity.
Erosion of fragile sandstone habits.
High-frequency fire impacting recruitment by killing seed stores, and too little fire causing infestation by Cassytha pubescens (native stem parasite) impacting plant health and flowering.
Insufficient understanding of species pollination vector and seed set, whether the species is an obligate seeder, its flowering period, and whether flowering and pollinators will be reduced under climate change scenarios of extended drought, increased wildfires, and high soil temperatures
Roadside and track (including walking track) maintenance directly damaging and destroying individual plants, removing seedbank, compromising habitat, and compacting soil. Clearing and thinning roadside vegetation damaging individual plants, changing community structure, potentially introducing weeds, and changing habitat suitability (such as increased light, altered water flow).
Rabbit and feral goat browsing impacting local populations.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 5 priority actions to help recover the Fairy Bells in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Rabbit eradication and control program.
No further degradation or loss of potential habitat.
Protect existing populations from stock and feral goats through appropriate fencing or controls.
No further loss of extant populations.
Baseline surveys required to confirm known and locate new populations.
Undertake monitoring of populations in order to inform management regimes, in particular with regard to disturbance and fire.

Information sources

Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
Byrnes, N.B. (1981) Notes on the genus Homoranthus (Myrtaceae) in Australia. Austrobaileya 1(4): 372-375.
Cheel, E. (1922) Notes on the genera Darwinia, Homoranthus and Rylstonea in NSW, Queensland and South Australia. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 56: 62-77.
Craven, L.A. and Jones, S.R. (1991) A taxonomic review of Homoranthus and two new species of Darwinia (both Myrtaceae, Chamelaucieae). Australian Systematic Botany 4(4): 513-533.
Johnson, L.A.S. (1983) Notes on Homoranthus darwinioides. Burrendong Arboretum Brigge 64: 9-10.
Wilson, P.G. (1991) Homoranthus. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 2. New South Wales University Press, Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Talbragar Valley	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Known	None