HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Anigozanthos'' is a
genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of plant found naturally in the
Southwestern 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 Au ...
biogeographic region, belonging to the bloodwort family
Haemodoraceae Haemodoraceae is a family of perennial herbaceous angiosperms (flowering plants) containing 15 genera and 102 known species, sometimes known as the "bloodroots", found throughout the Southern Hemisphere, from Australia and New Guinea to South A ...
. The 11 species and their subspecies are commonly known as
kangaroo paw Kangaroo paw is the common name for a number of species, in two genera of the family Haemodoraceae, that are native to the south-west of Western Australia. These Rhizome, rhizomatous perennial plants are noted for their unique bird-attracting f ...
or catspaw, depending on their size, and the shape and colour of their flowers. A further species, previously identified as ''Anigozanthos fuliginosus'' (black kangaroo paw), was separated to a
monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unisp ...
genus as ''
Macropidia fuliginosa ''Macropidia fuliginosa'', the sole species of genus ''Macropidia'', is a perennial rhizomatous flowering plant. A relation of the kangaroo paws, '' Anigozanthus'', which are also endemic to Southwest Australia, it is referred to as the black ka ...
''. All 11 species of Anigozanthos are endemic to the south west of Western Australia,
Noongar The Noongar (, also spelt Noongah, Nyungar , Nyoongar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga ) are Aboriginal Australian people who live in the South West, Western Australia, south-west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton, Western Aus ...
Boodjar. The species are recognised by their unusual flowers, numerous hybrids and cultivars have been developed for cultivation and floristry in recent years; kangaroo paws are much in demand as house plants and as cut flowers. The red-and-green kangaroo paw is the floral emblem of Western Australia.


Taxonomy

The genus was first named by
Jacques Labillardière Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière (28 October 1755 – 8 January 1834) was a French biologist noted for his descriptions of the flora of Australia. Labillardière was a member of a voyage in search of the Jean-François de Galaup, comte ...
, a French botanist, in his work, ''
Relation du Voyage à la Recherche de la Pérouse ''Relation du Voyage à la Recherche de la Pérouse'' is an 1800 book that gives an account of the 1791-1793 d'Entrecasteaux expedition to Australasia. The title refers to the search for La Pérouse, who disappeared in the region in 1788, a popul ...
'', issued in 1800; he collected and described the
type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
, ''
Anigozanthos rufus ''Anigozanthos rufus'' is a grass-like evergreen perennial plant native to the southern coasts of Western Australia. Common names include red kangaroo paw, crimson kangaroo paw, and backdraft. Description The red kangaroo paw grows to a height ...
'', during the
d'Entrecasteaux Antoine Raymond Joseph de Bruni, chevalier d'Entrecasteaux (; 8 November 1737 – 21 July 1793) was a French Navy officer, explorer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Isle de France from 1787 to 1789. He is best known ...
expedition's visit to
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 Au ...
in 1792. However, he does not provide a meaning for this name in his description. C.A. Gardener derived it from the Greek words ''ánisos'' "unequal" and ''ánthos'' "flower" according to La Billardiere's description of its collective
petal Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...
s as 'irregular' and 'in the form of a tube divided at its extremities into six unequal parts', he assumed the "g" was inserted for
euphony Phonaesthetics (also spelled phonesthetics in North America) is the study of the beauty and pleasantness associated with the sounds of certain words or parts of words. The term was first used in this sense, perhaps by during the mid-20th century ...
. The common name 'kangaroo paw' was initially given to ''
Anigozanthos manglesii ''Anigozanthos manglesii'', commonly known as the red-and-green kangaroo paw, Mangles' kangaroo paw, kurulbrang (Noongar), is a plant species endemic (ecology), endemic to Western Australia, and the floral emblem of that state. The flower has ...
'' and came to be used for other species of ''Anigozanthos'' as they became known. The origin of the name 'catspaw' is uncertain, but presumed to distinguish the compact size of the plant and flowers from others of the genus. Kangaroo paws refers to a grouping of species resembling ''A. manglesii'', with elongated red and green (or green) flowers and greater overall size.


Description

These
perennials In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
are
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only 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 foun ...
to dry sandy,
siliceous Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula , commonly found in nature as quartz. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one of the most complex and abundant ...
areas of southwest Australia, but they occur as well in a variety of other environments and soil types. They are grown commercially in Australia, the United States, Japan and Israel. The plant grows from short, underground, horizontal
rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and Shoot (botany), shoots from its Node (botany), nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from ...
s. The length and the character of these may vary between the species: some are fleshy, others are fragile. The
sap Sap is a fluid transported in the xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a s ...
in the
root In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...
system allows the plants to survive extreme dry spells. In summer, a number of species die back to the rhizome, growing back in autumn. The plants have a basal
rosette Rosette is the French diminutive of ''rose''. It may refer to: Flower shaped designs * Rosette (award), a mark awarded by an organisation * Rosette (design), a small flower design *hence, various flower-shaped or rotational symmetric forms: ** R ...
of long green to greyish-green
leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...
. The leaves of some species are hairy. From the heart of this roset merge long leafless stalks, which can reach 2 m, ending in a raceme of
flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...
s. The size and height of these stalks, which can be clothed in coloured hairs, varies between the species. The
tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure that plants use as storage organs for nutrients, derived from stems or roots. Tubers help plants perennate (survive winter or dry months), provide energy and nutrients, and are a means of asexual reproduc ...
ous flower
bud In botany, a bud is an undeveloped or Plant embryogenesis, embryonic Shoot (botany), shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of a Plant stem, stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormancy, dormant conditi ...
s are also covered with coloured hairs, giving it a velvety aspect. These long furry hairs also determine the colour of the flower, which may range from almost black to yellow, orange and red. Some species are even dichromatic (as ''Anigozanthos manglesii''). The tubular form of the flower bud resembles a kangaroo paw, hence its name. The flower tip spreads fanlike into six petals. Full-grown plants can have up to ten flowers at the end of each stalk.


Species

The genus comprises 11 species, some species with subspecies recognised by FloraBase as rare or endangered taxa. *''
Anigozanthos bicolor ''Anigozanthos bicolor'', commonly known as cat's paw, little kangaroo paw or two coloured kangaroo paw, is a grass-like perennial herb native to the south western coastal parts of Western Australia. Description The rhizomatous plant typically ...
'' Endl. (little kangaroo paw) **''Anigozanthos bicolor'' ssp. ''bicolor'' (two-coloured kangaroo paw) **''Anigozanthos bicolor'' ssp. ''decrescens'' **''Anigozanthos bicolor'' ssp. ''exstans'' **''Anigozanthos bicolor'' ssp. ''minor'' *''
Anigozanthos flavidus ''Anigozanthos flavidus'' is a species of plant found in Southwest Australia. It is member of the Haemodoraceae family. It is commonly known as the tall, yellow, or evergreen, kangaroo paw. The specific epithet, ''flavidus'', refers to the yell ...
'' DC. (tall kangaroo paw) *''
Anigozanthos gabrielae ''Anigozanthos gabrielae'' is a species of ''Anigozanthos'' in the family Haemodoraceae known as dwarf kangaroo paw. This flowering, rhizomatous, perennial plant is endemic to Southwest Australia and grows on sand in areas which are wet in wint ...
'' Domin (dwarf kangaroo paw) *''
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 ...
'' **''Anigozanthos humilis'' ssp. ''humilis'' (common catspaw) **''Anigozanthos humilis'' ssp. ''chrysanthus'' (Mogumber catspaw) **''Anigozanthos humilis'' ssp. ''grandis'' (tall catspaw) *''
Anigozanthos kalbarriensis ''Anigozanthos kalbarriensis'', commonly known as Kalbarri catspaw, is a grass-like perennial herb native to the south western coastal parts of Western Australia. Description The rhizomatous plant typically grows to a height of and blooms in s ...
'' (Kalbarri catspaw) *''
Anigozanthos manglesii ''Anigozanthos manglesii'', commonly known as the red-and-green kangaroo paw, Mangles' kangaroo paw, kurulbrang (Noongar), is a plant species endemic (ecology), endemic to Western Australia, and the floral emblem of that state. The flower has ...
'' D.Don (red-and-green kangaroo paw) **''Anigozanthos manglesii'' ssp. ''manglesii'' **''Anigozanthos manglesii'' ssp. ''quadrans'' *'' Anigozanthos onycis'' (branched catspaw) *'' Anigozanthos preissii'' (Albany catspaw) *''
Anigozanthos pulcherrimus ''Anigozanthos pulcherrimus'' or yellow kangaroo paw is a grass-like perennial herb that is native to Western Australia, from Perth to Geraldton. It can grow up to in height. ''Anigozanthos pulcherrimus'' has yellow flower Flowers, also ...
'' Hook. (golden kangaroo paw) *''
Anigozanthos rufus ''Anigozanthos rufus'' is a grass-like evergreen perennial plant native to the southern coasts of Western Australia. Common names include red kangaroo paw, crimson kangaroo paw, and backdraft. Description The red kangaroo paw grows to a height ...
'' Labill. (red kangaroo paw) *''
Anigozanthos viridis ''Anigozanthos viridis'', commonly known as Green Kangaroo Paw, is a grass-like perennial herb native to south western coastal regions of Western Australia. The Noongar peoples know the plant as Koroylbardany. Description The rhizomatous plant ...
'' Endl. **''Anigozanthos viridis'' subsp. ''viridis'' (green kangaroo paw) **''Anigozanthos viridis'' subsp. ''terraspectans'' Hopper (dwarf green kangaroo paw) **''Anigozanthos viridis'' subsp. ''metallica'' (metallic green kangaroo paw)


Commercial hybrids

The popularity of ''Anigozanthos'', as a garden plant or commercially produced cut-flower, has led to the development of
cultivar A cultivar is a kind of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and which retains those traits when Plant propagation, propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root a ...
s. The
Australian Cultivar Registration Authority The Australian Cultivar Registration Authority (ACRA) is the International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA) for Australian plant genera, excluding those genera or groups for which other ICRAs have been appointed. It is a committee of repr ...
lists twenty seven registered names and descriptions of cultivars derived from the genus. A larger number of patents for these, accepted or granted 'varieties', are recorded in the
Plant breeders' rights Plant breeders' rights (PBR), also known as plant variety rights (PVR), are rights granted in certain places to the breeder of a new variety of plant that give the breeder exclusive control over the propagating material (including seed, cuttin ...
database.


Gallery

Image:Bush-Pearl-in-RBG-Cranbourne.jpg, ''Anigozanthos'' Bush Pearl in the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria at Cranbourne Gardens, is a division of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (the second division being the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, located in the centre of Melbourne). It is located in the suburb of ...
File:Anigozanthos.flavidus3.jpg, Tall kangaroo paw – yellow flowers. Image:Anigozanthos flavidus close-up.jpg, Kangaroo paw close-up. File:Anigozanthos rambubona 1.jpg, ''Anigozanthos'' 'Rambubona'.


References


External links

* *
Western Australian Herbarium: ''Anigozanthos''
Department of Environment and Conservation {{Authority control Commelinales of Australia Angiosperms of Western Australia Commelinales genera