| Anigozanthos rufus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Commelinales |
| Family: | Haemodoraceae |
| Genus: | Anigozanthos |
| Species: | A. rufus |
| Binomial name | |
| Anigozanthos rufus | |
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Anigozanthos rufus is a grass-like evergreen perennial plant native to the southern coasts of Western Australia. Common names include red kangaroo paw, [2] crimson kangaroo paw, [3] and backdraft. [4]
The red kangaroo paw grows to a height of 0.2 to 1 m (7.9 in to 3 ft 3.4 in). [2] [5] The grass-like plant has green and grey flat, strappy leaves that are 17 to 28 cm (6.7 to 11.0 in) long. [2] It produces long red to purple to yellow coloured flowers in spring and early summer from August to January. [2] The tubular flowers have a velvety texture [6] and form dense heads at the end. [3]
The species was first formally described by the botanist Jacques Labillardière in 1800 as part of the work Relation du Voyage à la Recherche de la Perouse. Synonyms include Schwaegrichenia rufa, Agonizanthos rufa and Anigozanthos tyrianthinus. [7]
The plant is often situated in seasonally wet areas growing in sandy soils along the south coast from around Albany in the west to around Cape Arid in the east. [2]
It is commercially available in pots or seed form [3] and is suitable for small gardens or as a border plant and is also suitable as a pot plant but needs to be moved indoors for the winter months in cooler areas. Once it is established it is drought tolerant, grows in full sun or shade and moderately frost tolerant. The plant needs space for plenty of air flow around the base to assist to prevent Ink disease which blackens the leaf blade. [4] Clumps of the plant can be divided in the summer. [3]
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 Guinea, and in the Americas. Perhaps the best known are the widely cultivated and unusual kangaroo paws from Australia, of the two closely related genera Anigozanthos and Macropidia.
Anigozanthos is a genus of Southwest Australian plants of the bloodwort family Haemodoraceae. The 11 species and their subspecies are commonly known as kangaroo paw or catspaw, depending on their size, and the shape and color of their flowers. A further species, previously identified as Anigozanthos fuliginosus, was separated to a monotypic genus as Macropidia fuliginosa.
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. The tubular flowers are coated with dense hairs and open at the apex with six claw-like structures which resemble kangaroo forelimbs, and it is from this paw-like formation that the common name "kangaroo paw" is derived.
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.
Themeda triandra is a species of perennial tussock-forming grass widespread in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Pacific. In Australia it is commonly known as kangaroo grass and in East Africa and South Africa it is known as red grass and red oat grass or as rooigras in Afrikaans. Kangaroo grass was formerly thought to be one of two species, and was named Themeda australis.
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 kangaroo paw. Bearing unusual black and green flowers, it occurs on a coastal plain from Perth to Geraldton.
Conostylis is a genus of perennial herbs in the Haemodoraceae family, commonly known as cone flowers. All species are endemic to the south west of Western Australia.
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 yellow flowers of this plant.
Microlaena is a genus of grass with a single species Microlaena stipoides or Ehrharta stipoides. It occurs naturally in all states of Australia as well as in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines. It has also been introduced into Hawaii and Reunion Island and has been reported as invasive in both. Common names used include weeping grass, weeping rice grass and weeping meadow grass.
Gahnia grandis is a tussock-forming perennial plant found in southeastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Acacia anceps, commonly known as Port Lincoln wattle or the two edged wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae.
Hakea francisiana, commonly called the emu tree, grass-leaf hakea or bottlebrush hakea, is a shrub or tree of the genus Hakea native to Western Australia and South Australia.
Caladenia busselliana, commonly known as Bussell's spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rare orchid with an erect, hairy leaf and up to three pale yellow flowers. Only about fifty specimens are known and it is threatened by habitat destruction and by too-frequent or too infrequent bushfires.
Xanthorrhoea gracilis, commonly known as the graceful grasstree, grassboy or mimidi, is a species of grasstree of the genus Xanthorrhoea native to Western Australia.
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.
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.
Anigozanthos bicolor, commonly known as little kangaroo paw or two coloured kangaroo paw, is a grass-like perennial herb native to the south western coastal parts of Western Australia.
Anigozanthos kalbarriensis, commonly known as Kalbarri catspaw, is a grass-like perennial herb native to the south western coastal parts of Western Australia.
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 1 m in height. Anigozanthos pulcherrimus has yellow flowers that appear from October to December.
Anigozanthos onycis, the branched catspaw, is a rarely seen plant found in Southwest Australia.