''Anigozanthos manglesii'', commonly known as the red-and-green kangaroo paw, Mangles' kangaroo paw, Kurulbrang (

Noongar The Noongar (, also spelt Noongah, Nyungar , Nyoongar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga ) are Aboriginal Australian peoples who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the so ...

), 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 ...

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 else ...

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 ...

, and the

floral emblem In a number of countries, plants have been chosen as symbols to represent specific geographic areas. Some countries have a country-wide floral emblem; others in addition have symbols representing subdivisions. Different processes have been used to ...

of that state. The flower has become symbolic of the region. The display between August and November is remarkable for the high standing flowers occurring in urban and coastal regions. The species is not threatened, but is protected under state legislation. A license is required for collection from the wild. It is desirable as a cut flower, possessing an unusual form and striking colours that last well.

Description

A member of the '' Anigozanthos''

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

, ''Anigozanthos manglesii'' is a rhizotomous

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wid ...

with long, grey-green linear leaves around 30 to 60 cm long. The leaves extended from a central point at ground level. Its red and green flowers appear at the end of long stalks between August and November. The flowers display in a sequence from the lowest point, those following are in a progression of development. The spent flower-stalks may remain well after their season. The length of these stalks from the base is up to 1200 mm tall.

Distribution

The species is widely distributed throughout the Southwest Australian biogeographic regions, preferring white, yellow or grey sand, or sandy loam. The occurrence is confirmed in the northernmost part of its range in the

Geraldton Sandplains Geraldton (Wajarri: ''Jambinu'', Wilunyu: ''Jambinbirri'') is a coastal city in the Mid West region of the Australian state of Western Australia, north of the state capital, Perth. At June 2018, Geraldton had an urban population of 37,648. ...

and the Swan Coastal Plain near

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

. Extensive records also exist of occurrence in

Jarrah Forest Jarrah forest is tall open forest in which the dominant overstory tree is ''Eucalyptus marginata'' (jarrah). The ecosystem occurs only in the Southwest Botanical Province of Western Australia. It is most common in the biogeographic region named i ...

and Warren region to the south, but not reaching the southern coasts. It extends inland to the

Avon Wheatbelt The Avon Wheatbelt is a bioregion in Western Australia. It has an area of . It is considered part of the larger Southwest Australia savanna ecoregion. Geography The Avon Wheatbelt bioregion is mostly a gently undulating landscape with low reli ...

Taxonomy

The species was first described by a Scottish botanist

David Don David Don (21 December 1799 – 15 December 1841) was a Scottish botanist. Biography David Don was born on 21 December 1799 at Doo Hillock, Forfar, Angus, Scotland to Caroline Clementina Stuart, and her husband George Don of Forfar. His olde ...

in 1834 from the type specimen: There are two recognised subspecies as follows: *''Anigozanthos manglesii'' subsp. ''quadrans''

Hopper Hopper or hoppers may refer to: Places *Hopper, Illinois * Hopper, West Virginia * Hopper, a mountain and valley in the Hunza–Nagar District of Pakistan * Hopper (crater), a crater on Mercury People with the name * Hopper (surname) * Grace H ...

:Distribution of the subspecies is as far north as Shark Bay, variation in habit and structure of the subspecies is otherwise discrete. *''Anigozanthos manglesii'' D.Don subsp. ''manglesii'' :Wide occurrence as far north as Gingin and to

Cape Leeuwin Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly (but not most southerly) mainland point of the Australian continent, in the state of Western Australia. Description A few small islands and rocks, the St Alouarn Islands, extend further in Flinders ...

in the south. ''Anigozanthos manglesii'' is known to hybridize naturally with other ''Anigozanthos'' species: * '' A. viridis'' – progeny have been named ''Anigozanthos manglesii'' var. × ''angustifolius''

Lindl. John Lindley FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist. Early years Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley ...

and ''Anigozanthos manglesii'' var. × ''virescens'' Ostenf. *'' A. bicolor'' *'' A. kalbarriensis'' *'' A. humilis''

Cultivars

''Anigozanthos manglesii'' is often artificially hybridized with '' A. flavidus'' and to a lesser extent '' A. rufus''. Cultivars include: *Autumn Mystery - ''A. manglesii'' x ''A. flavidus'' *Big Red - ''A. manglesii'' x ''A. flavidus'' *Bush Emerald - ''A. manglesii'' x ''A. flavidus'' *Hickman's Delight - ''A. manglesii x A. flavidus'' *Rogue Radiance - (''A. manglesii'' x ''A. rufus'') x ''A. flavidus'' *Space Age - ''A manglesii'' x ''A. flavidus'' *Sue Dixon - (''A. manglesii'' x ''A. rufus'') x ''A. flavidus''

Cultivation

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout ...

regions this plant is either grown under glass or outdoors with the winter protection of a

mulch A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil. Reasons for applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving fertility and health of the soil, reducing weed growth and enhancing the visual appeal of the area. A mu ...

. The species germinates readily from seed. As plants generally deteriorate after the second season, they are best treated as

biennial Biennial means (an event) lasting for two years or occurring every two years. The related term biennium is used in reference to a period of two years. In particular, it can refer to: * Biennial plant, a plant which blooms in its second year and th ...

. Watering should be withheld during the dormant period. They are susceptible to fungal ink spot disease and the leaves are attractive to snails. They are often used as

cut flowers Cut flowers are flowers or flower buds (often with some stem and leaf) that have been cut from the plant bearing it. It is usually removed from the plant for decorative use. Typical uses are in vase displays, wreaths and garlands. Many garde ...

, due to their unique appearance and lasting qualities. This plant has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...

's Award of Garden Merit.

Symbolic and artistic references

In November 1960, ''Anigozanthos manglesii'' was adopted as the floral

emblem An emblem is an abstract or representational pictorial image that represents a concept, like a moral truth, or an allegory, or a person, like a king or saint. Emblems vs. symbols Although the words ''emblem'' and '' symbol'' are often us ...

of Western Australia in a proclamation made by then Premier of Western Australia

David Brand Sir David Brand KCMG (1 August 1912 – 15 April 1979) was an Australian politician. A member of the Liberal Party, he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1945 to 1975, and also the 19th and longest-serving Prem ...

. It also appears on the armorial bearings of that state, framing the crown in the

Coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

. This is given to denote the sovereignty and independence of Western Australia. The

blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The vi ...

reads:

And for Crest: On a Wreath Or and Sable The Royal Crown between two Kangaroo Paw (Anigosanthos icManglesii) flowers slipped proper.

A red and green kangaroo paw superimposed over a scene of

was depicted on a 5 pence on a 1962 Australian stamp issue designed by R. M. Warner to mark the

British Empire and Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games, often referred to as the Friendly Games or simply the Comm Games, are a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exce ...

held in Perth that year. In 1968 another stamp issue, designed by Nell Wilson, showed the red and green kangaroo paw as part of a series on state floral emblems.Stamp image
/ref>

Notes

References

* * * * *''Extract from Government Gazette (No.95) of 18 November 1960''. PROCLAMATION:

By His Excellency The Honourable Sir John Patric Dwyer, ... Lieutenant-Governor ( Lieutenant Governor) in and over the State of Western Australia and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia. ...desirable that a floral emblem be adopted as an emblem of the State ... described as ''Anigosanthos Manglesii'' D. Don: NOW THEREFORE I, the Lieutenant-Governor, ... Given under my hand and the Public Seal of the said State at Perth, this 9th day of November, 1960. By His Excellency's Command, David Brand, Premier. God save the Queen !!! (abbreviated and uncorrected text fro
ANGB

External links

* Australian Cultivar Registration Authorit

- List for genus '' Anigozanthos'', updates the

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...

epithets. {{Taxonbar, from=Q2849952 Commelinales of Australia Angiosperms of Western Australia manglesii National symbols of Australia Garden plants Endemic flora of Southwest Australia