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Thursday 16 June 2011

Anigozanthus(Flower)

Anigozanthos flower
Anigozanthos is a small genus of Australian plants in the Bloodwort family Haemodoraceae. The 11 species and several subspecies are commonly known as kangaroo paw and catspaw depending on the shape of their flowers. A further species, previously identified as Anigozanthos fuliginosus and commonly known as the Black Kangaroo Paw, has been transferred to its own monotypic genus and is now known as Macropidia fuliginosa.
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 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.
The plants have a basal rosette 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 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.
In recent years a number of numerous hybrids and cultivars have been developed. Kangaroo paws are much in demand as house plants and as cut flowers.
The genus was first named by Jacques Labillardière in his popular work, Relation du Voyage à la Recherche de la Pérouse, issued in 1800.[1] The French botanist collected and described the type species, Anigozanthus rufus, during the d'Entrecasteaux expedition's visit to Southwest Australia in 1792.

Diversity:
The diversity of the genus is classified by 11 species, several of their subspecies are recognised by FloraBase as rare or endangered taxa.[3]
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 lists twenty seven registered names and descriptions of cultivars derived from the genus.[4] A larger number of patents for these, accepted or granted 'varieties', are recorded in the Plant breeders' rights database.[5]
  • Anigozanthos ‘Amber Velvet’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Autumn Mystery’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Autumn Sunrise’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Baby Roo’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Big Red’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Bush Ember’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Bush Emerald’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Bush Glow’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Bush Inferno’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Bush Ochre’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Bush Pearl’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Bush Ranger’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Bush Spark’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Charm’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Copper Charm’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Dwarf Delight’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Early Spring’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Gold Velvet’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Green Dragon’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Harmony’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Hickman’s Delight’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Kings Park Federation Flame’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Lilac Queen’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Little Jewel’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Mini Red’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Miniprolific’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Patricia’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Pink Joey’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Ramboball’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Ramboblitz’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Rambubona’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Rambueleg’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Rambudan’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Rambodiam’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Rambofury’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Ramboramp’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Regal Claw’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Regal Velvet’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Red Cross’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Rogue Radiance’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Ruby Jools’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Space Age’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Spence‘s Spectacular’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Sue Dixon’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Unity’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Velvet Harmony’
  • Anigozanthos ‘Werite Woorata’
References:
  1. ^ "Anigozanthos Labill.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=38208.
  2. ^ Barker, Robyn (June 2003). "Labillardière, French naturalist extraordinaire". Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter (ASBS): pp. 19. http://www.anbg.gov.au/asbs/newsletter/newsletter-pdf/03-june-115.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-13. [dead link]
  3. ^ "Anigozanthos". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia. http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/21227.
  4. ^ "List of Registered Cultivars derived from Australian native flora". Australian Cultivar Registration Authority. 2004. http://www.anbg.gov.au/acra/acra-list-2004.html. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  5. ^ "Anigozanthos". Plant Breeder's Rights. IP Australia. http://pbr.ipaustralia.plantbreeders.gov.au/. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  6. Hopper, S (1993): "Kangaroo Paws and Catspaws - A Natural History and Field Guide", Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.
External links:
Western Australian Herbarium: Anigozanthos Department of Environment and Conservation
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