''Anigozanthos'' is a genus of Southwest Australian plants of the bloodwort family

Haemodoraceae Haemodoraceae is a family of perennial herbaceous flowering plants with 14 genera and 102 known species. It is sometimes known as the "bloodwort family". Primarily a Southern Hemisphere family, they are found in South Africa, Australia and New ...

. 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 rhizomatous perennial plants are noted for their unique bird-attracting flowers. T ...

or catspaw, depending on their size, and the shape and color of their flowers. A further species, previously identified as ''Anigozanthos fuliginosus'' (black kangaroo paw), was separated to a monotypic 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 k ...

''. 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 ''Anigozanthos manglesii'', commonly known as the red-and-green kangaroo paw, Mangles' kangaroo paw, Kurulbrang (Noongar), is a plant species endemic to Western Australia, and the floral emblem of that state. The flower has become symbolic of ...

is the floral emblem of Western Australia.

Taxonomy

The genus was first named by Jacques Labillardière, a French botanist, in his work, '' Relation du Voyage à la Recherche de la Pérouse'', issued in 1800; he collected and described the type species, ''

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 o ...

'', during the d'Entrecasteaux 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 Aus ...

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 Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

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. 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 to Western Australia, and the floral emblem of that state. The flower has become symbolic of ...

'' 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 are endemic to dry sandy, siliceous 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 shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

s. The length and the character of these may vary between the species: some are fleshy, others are fragile. The sap in the root 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 of long green to greyish-green

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

. 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 flowers. The size and height of these stalks, which can be clothed in coloured hairs, varies between the species. The tuberous flower buds 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 yello ...

'' 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 winter ...

'' 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. Taxono ...

'' **''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 sp ...

'' (Kalbarri catspaw) *''

'' D.Don (red-and-green kangaroo paw) **''Anigozanthos manglesii'' ssp. ''manglesii'' **''Anigozanthos manglesii'' ssp. ''quadrans'' *''

Anigozanthos onycis ''Anigozanthos onycis'', the branched catspaw, is a rarely seen plant found in Southwest Australia. Taxonomy ''Anigozanthos onycis'' was first described by Alex George in 1974. George assigned the epithet ''onycis'' for the clawed appearance ...

'' (branched catspaw) *''

Anigozanthos preissii ''Anigozanthos preissii'', the Albany cat's paw, is a herbaceous plant species in the family Haemodoraceae, endemic to Western Australia. The species is an upright perennial herb, with long leaves that emerge from a rhizome beneath the soil. A ...

'' (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 flowers A flower, someti ...

'' Hook. (golden kangaroo paw) *''

'' 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 t ...

'' 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 cultivars. 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 database.

Gallery

Image:Bush-Pearl-in-RBG-Cranbourne.jpg, ''Anigozanthos'' Bush Pearl in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne 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 {{Taxonbar, from=Q1795386 Commelinales of Australia Angiosperms of Western Australia Commelinales genera