''Anigozanthos onycis'', the branched catspaw, is a rarely seen plant found in

Southwest Australia Southwest Australia is a biogeographic region in Western Australia. It includes the Mediterranean-climate area of southwestern Australia, which is home to a diverse and distinctive flora and fauna. The region is also known as the Southwest Aus ...

Taxonomy

''Anigozanthos onycis'' was first described by Alex George in 1974. George assigned the epithet ''onycis'' for the clawed appearance of the flower when opened, derived from the Greek ''onyx'' (a talon or claw). The unknown species was brought to the attention of the author in 1962, at a flower show in Kalgoorlie (500 km beyond its known range), but the source of this specimen was not determined. A collection made by Honor Venning was presented to the

Western Australian Herbarium The Western Australian Herbarium is the State Herbarium in Perth, Western Australia. It is part of the State government's Department of Parks and Wildlife, and has responsibility for the description and documentation of the flora of Western Aust ...

in 1969, and another made by Bob Dixon, obtained from a private property south of the Stirling Range in 1972, was used by George for its formal description. The common name branched catspaw distinguishes the flowering scape of ''A. onycis'' from other species known as catspaws: ''A humilis'', ''A. preissii'' and ''A. kalbarriensis'', smaller species of ''Anigozanthus''. Catspaw is presumed to have been applied as a diminutive of kangaroo paw, the collective name of the genus.

Description

A species of '' Anigozanthus'', the kangaroo paws and catspaws, which have single leaves emerging from a rhizome and tubular flowers presented on a scape. The leaves of this species are broadly keel-shaped on profile, their length is around 50 to 500 mm long. The color of the flowers is creamy to slightly reddish, these are presented in racemes on branched scapes that are 150 to 300 mm tall. The flowering season is September to October, earlier than most ''Anigozanthus'' species. They are periodically abundant in open woodlands cleared by fire, providing a conspicuous display of flowers against a blackened landscape. ''Anigozanthos onycis'' emerges after summer fires, growing and setting seed in the first year and losing vigour in the second if the plant survives at all. This short lifespan only allows the size of the plant to reach around 200 mm in width, presenting fewer leaves than others of the genus. The reproductive strategy within its fire prone habitat is as a seeder, relying on a seedbank that is triggered by fire rather than resprouting from their rhizome. The sole pollinator is the

tawny-crowned honeyeater The tawny-crowned honeyeater (''Gliciphila melanops'') is a passerine bird native to southern Australia. Taxonomy The tawny-crowned honeyeater was originally described by ornithologist John Latham in 1801 as ''Certhia melanops''. Its specific e ...

(''Gliciphila melanops''), a nectar feeder that has specialised in the same habitat. The branched catspaw is allied to ''

Anigozanthos humilis ''Anigozanthos humilis'' is a species of '' Anigozanthos'' in the family Haemodoraceae. This flowering perennial plant is endemic to Southwest Australia and widespread in its open forests. Common names include catspaw and common catspaw. Taxo ...

'' and '' A. preissii''. The common catspaw, ''Anigozanthos humilis'' subsp. ''humilis'', has a similar appearance and naturally hybridises with this species. A widely grown cultivar named ''Anigozanthos'' 'Dwarf Delight' was developed by hybridising ''A. onycis'' with the kangaroo paw '' A. flavidus''.

Distribution

The known distribution range is restricted to a semi-arid area near the south coast of Western Australia, within the

bioregion known as the

Esperance Plains Esperance Plains, also known as Eyre Botanical District, is a biogeographic region in southern Western Australia on the south coast between the Avon Wheatbelt and Hampton bioregions, and bordered to the north by the Mallee region. It is ...

. ''Anigozanthos onycis'' was described from specimens obtained in sandy heathland between the

Stirling Range The Stirling Range or Koikyennuruff is a range of mountains and hills in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, south-east of Perth. It is over wide from west to east, stretching from the highway between Mount Barker and Cranb ...

and Green Range outcrops. It as relatively rare, occurring over a widespread range between the Murchison River and Albany, and extending to Bremer Bay in the east. The species was later found in the

Fitzgerald River National Park Fitzgerald River National Park is a national park in the Shires of Ravensthorpe and the Jerramungup in Western Australia, southeast of Perth. The park is recognised on Australia's National Heritage List for its outstanding diversity of nativ ...

, emerging after a large bushfire in 1989 and disappearing again in 1991. The preferred habitat is sandy woodlands or adjacent to swamps, on white or grey sand, at the well drained soils of slopes and the top of hills.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15316780 onycis Plants described in 1974 Angiosperms of Western Australia Taxa named by Alex George Endemic flora of Southwest Australia