''Pileanthus peduncularis'', commonly known as coppercups, is a plant

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of the family

Myrtaceae Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All speci ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to Western Australia. The low and spreading shrub typically grows to a height of . It blooms between August and December producing copper-orange to red flowers which occur in a massed display. The flowers are large with five-petals that occur towards the ends of the branches and from the leaf axils. The flowers are approximately in diameter. The evergreen leaves are small and linear leaves and about long. The species was first formally described by the botanist

Stephan Endlicher Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher also known as Endlicher István László (24 June 1804, Bratislava (Pozsony) – 28 March 1849, Vienna) was an Austrian botanist, numismatist and Sinologist. He was a director of the Botanical Garden of Vienna. Bio ...

in 1838 as part of the work ''Stirpium Australasicarum Herbarii Hugeliani Decades Tres'' The only known synonym is ''Chamelaucium dilatatum''. It is found on sand plains and sand dunes in the

Pilbara The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a glo ...

Mid West The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

, Wheatbelt and

Swan Coastal Plain The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geol ...

regions of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

where it grows in sandy soils. There are two recognised

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

: * ''Pileanthus peduncularis'' subsp. ''pilifer'' * ''Pileanthus peduncularis'' subsp. ''peduncularis''

References

{{- peduncularis Endemic flora of Western Australia Myrtales of Australia Rosids of Western Australia Taxa named by Stephan Endlicher Plants described in 1838