Pileanthus limacis

Coastal coppercups
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Pileanthus
Species:	P. limacis
Binomial name
	Pileanthus limacis; Labill.

Last updated July 29, 2019

Pileanthus limacis, commonly known as coastal coppercups,^[1] is a plant species of the family Myrtaceae endemic to Western Australia.^[2]

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 sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behaviour or ecological niche. In addition, paleontologists use the concept of the chronospecies since fossil reproduction cannot be examined.

Myrtaceae or the myrtle family is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pohutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All species are woody, contain essential oils, and have flower parts in multiples of four or five. The leaves are evergreen, alternate to mostly opposite, simple, and usually entire. The flowers have a base number of five petals, though in several genera the petals are minute or absent. The stamens are usually very conspicuous, brightly coloured and numerous.

The low spreading to prostrate shrub typically grows to a height of 0.8 metres (2.6 ft). It blooms between July and October producing white-pinkflowers.

It is found on coastal sand dunes in the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia between Shark Bay and Ashburton where it grows in sandy soils over limestone.^[2]

The Gascoyne region is one of the nine administrative regions of Western Australia. It is located in the north west of Western Australia, and consists of the local government areas of Carnarvon, Exmouth, Shark Bay and Upper Gascoyne. The Gascoyne has about 600 km (370 mi) of Indian Ocean coastline; extends inland about 500 km (310 mi); and has an area of 138,000 km² (53,000 sq mi), including islands.

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; its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore; and as a global biodiversity hotspot for subterranean fauna.

Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, and the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia's largest state, with a total land area of 2,529,875 square kilometres, and the second-largest country subdivision in the world, surpassed only by Russia's Sakha Republic. The state has about 2.6 million inhabitants – around 11 percent of the national total – of whom the vast majority live in the south-west corner, 79 per cent of the population living in the Perth area, leaving the remainder of the state sparsely populated.

The species was first formally described by the botanist Jacques Labillardière in 1806 in the work Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.^[3]

Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière was a French biologist noted for his descriptions of the flora of Australia. Labillardière was a member of a voyage in search of the La Pérouse expedition. He published a popular account of his journey and produced the first Flora on the region.

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Eucalyptus zopherophloia is a mallee tree that is native to the west coast of Western Australia.

Verticordia attenuata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with a single main stem, small leaves and pink to purple flowers which fade to white as they age. It usually grows in sand in areas that are wet in winter, often amongst grasses and is found in coastal areas near Bunbury.

Thelymitra crinita, commonly known as the blue lady orchid, the queen orchid, the lily orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single broad, oval leaf and up to fifteen brilliant blue flowers with a blue column with the lobe on top of the anther covered with short, finger-like calli.

Myoporum insulare, commonly known as common boobialla, native juniper or blueberry tree is a flowering plant in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to coastal areas of Australia. It is a shrub or small tree which grows on dunes and coastal cliffs, is very salt tolerant and widely used in horticulture.

Adenanthos cuneatus, also known as coastal jugflower, flame bush, bridle bush and sweat bush, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae native to the south coast of Western Australia. The French naturalist Jacques Labillardière originally described it in 1805. Within the genus Adenanthos, it lies in the section Adenanthos and is most closely related to A. stictus. A. cuneatus has hybridized with four other species of Adenanthos. Growing to 2 m high and wide, it is erect to prostrate in habit, with wedge-shaped lobed leaves covered in fine silvery hair. The single red flowers are insignificant, and appear all year, though especially in late spring. The reddish new growth occurs over the summer.

Pileanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, endemic to Western Australia. Collectively referred to by the common name coppercups, the eight currently recognised species are:

Persoonia saccata, commonly known as snottygobble, and cadgeegurrup in indigenous language, is a plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is usually an erect shrub and has linear leaves and groups of up to fifty or more irregularly shaped, yellow flowers which are hairy on the outside. It usually grows in woodland dominated by jarrah, marri or large Banksia species.

Baeckea subcuneata is a shrub found along the west coast Western Australia.

Pileanthus aurantiacus is a plant species of the family Myrtaceae endemic to Western Australia.

Pileanthus bellus is a plant species of the family Myrtaceae endemic to Western Australia.

Pileanthus filifolius, commonly known as summer coppercups, is a plant species of the family Myrtaceae endemic to Western Australia.

Pileanthus peduncularis, commonly known as coppercups, is a plant species of the Myrtaceae family endemic to Western Australia.

Pileanthus rubronitidus is a plant species of the family Myrtaceae endemic to Western Australia.

Pileanthus septentrionalis is a plant species of the family Myrtaceae endemic to Western Australia.

Pileanthus vernicosus is a plant species of the family Myrtaceae endemic to Western Australia.

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References

↑ Luke Sweedman, David Merritt (2006). Australian Seeds: A Guide to Their Collection, Identification and Biology. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9780643098602.
1 2 "Pileanthus limacis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
↑ "Pileanthus limacis Labill". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 8 April 2017.

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[1] Luke Sweedman, David Merritt (2006). Australian Seeds: A Guide to Their Collection, Identification and Biology. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9780643098602.

[FloraBase-2] 1 2 "Pileanthus limacis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.

[3] "Pileanthus limacis Labill". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 8 April 2017.