Anigozanthos
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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Anigozanthos | image = Anigozanthos.flavidus1web.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Tall Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos flavidus) | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Liliopsida | ordo = Commelinales | familia = Haemodoraceae | subfamilia = Conostyloideae | genus = Anigozanthos | genus_authority = Labill. | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }}
Anigozanthos is a small genus of Australian plants in the Bloodwort family Haemodoraceae.
These perennials are endemic to dry sandy, siliceous areas of SW Australia, but they occur as well in a variety of other environments and soil types. They are also grown commercially, besides in Australia, in the USA, Japan and Israel.
The plant grows from short, underground, horizontal rhizomes. 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.
Image:Anigozanthos.flavidus2web.jpg
The plants have a basal roset of long green to greyish-green leaves. 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 the height of these stalks varies between the species. They can be clothed in coloured hairs. 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. The flowers can have different colours, ranging from almost black to yellow, orange and red. Some species are even dichromatic (as Anigozanthos manglesii). The tubular form of the flower bud makes one think of a kangaroo paw, hence its name. The flower tip spreads fanlike into 6 petals. Full-grown plants can have up to ten flowers at the end of each stalk.
In recent years a number of about 50 hybrids and cultivars have been developed. Kangaroo paws are much in demand as house plants and as cut flowers.
The name ‘Anigozanthos’ is derived from the Greek words : ‘anises’ (= unequal) and ‘anthos’ (= flower).
Species
Image:Anigozanthos.flavidus3web.jpg Image:Anigozanthos flavidus close-up.jpg
- Anigozanthos anchusa
- Anigozanthos bicolor
- Anigozanthos coccineus
- Anigozanthos dorrienii
- Anigozanthos flavidus : Tall Kangaroo Paw, Yellow Kangaroo Paw
- Anigozanthos flavidus var. bicolor
- Anigozanthos fuliginosus
- Anigozanthos gabrielae
- Anigozanthos humilis
- Anigozanthos humilis ssp. chrysanthus
- Anigozanthos kalbarriensis
- Anigozanthos manglesii : Red-and-green Kangaroo Paw (floral emblem of Western Australia)
- Anigozanthos manglesii var. angustifolius
- Anigozanthos manglesii var. flavescens
- Anigozanthos manglesii var. leptophylla
- Anigozanthos manglesii ssp. manglesii
- Anigozanthos manglesii ssp. quadrans
- Anigozanthos manglesii var. virescens
- Anigozanthos minimus
- Anigozanthos onycis
- Anigozanthos preissii
- Anigozanthos preissii var. plumosus
- Anigozanthos pulcherrima
- Anigozanthos rufus
- Anigozanthos tyrianthinus
- Anigozanthos viridis : Green Kangaroo Paw
- Anigozanthos viridis subsp. terraspectans
Commercial hybrids
- Anigozanthos ‘Bush Ranger’
- Anigozanthos ‘Dwarf Delight’
- Anigozanthos ‘Harmony’
- Anigozanthos ‘Pink Joey’
- Anigozanthos ‘Royal Claw’
- Anigozanthos ‘Red Cross’
Reference
- Hopper, S (1993): "Kangaroo Paws and Catspaws - A Natural History and Field Guide", Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.