Macropidia | |
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Macropidia fuliginosa | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Commelinales |
Family: | Haemodoraceae |
Subfamily: | Conostylidoideae |
Genus: | Macropidia J.Drumm. ex Harv. |
Species: | M. fuliginosa |
Binomial name | |
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 kangaroo paw. Bearing unusual black and green flowers, it occurs on a coastal plain from Perth to Geraldton. [1]
A species of the Haemodoraceae family, once allied to the kangaroo paws Anigozanthus , but recognised as a separate and monotypic sister genus named Macropidia. [2] [3] It was first described by James Drummond in a letter intended for publication in 1843, and named as "Anigozanthus Molloyiae". Drummond wrote of this species as a flower of mourning, and provided the epithet in reference to the recently deceased Georgiana Molloy, an early botanical collector of the region. The first published description by W. J. Hooker in the Botanical Magazine provided the name Anigozanthos fuliginosa in 1847, [4] but its later separation by Drummond and William Henry Harvey to a new genus in 1855 used Macropidia fumosa. [5] The erection of a new genus followed a visit by Hooker to the Swan River colony in 1854, the region in which Drummond lived and collected. The priority of the Hooker's earlier epithet was recognised by G. C. Druce, who established its revision as the current name Macropidia fuliginosa in 1917. [6]
The type locality is not certain, and while once thought to have been collected in the Hill River region, Stephen Hopper gave the location as "near Moore River" in the Flora of Australia . The collection was made by Johnston Drummond in 1843, probably close to the site where he was killed two years later; Rica Erickson identified a possible site near New Norcia and determined that he did not habitually visit the Hill river region. [6]
The name kangaroo paw is given for the flowering branches resemblance to a kangaroos forearm. The 'black' species is contained by a monotypic genus, eleven other similar plants of this name are contained by the genus Anigozanthus . The generic name Macropidia refers to the kangaroo genus Macropus ; fuliginosa is from the Latin for soot (fuligo) referring to the black colouration. [7] The description of the species in the Botanical Magazine in 1847, then known only from dried specimens, gave the common name sooty anigozanthos. [4]
"Nollamara" is the Aboriginal word for the black kangaroo paw, a name given to a suburb of Perth.
A small perennial herb with erect green-yellow leaves, its flowering scape is around one metre in height. [3] The leaves are strap-like, flattened, and between 315 and 460 mm long, 10 to 15 mm wide, and tightly arrayed at ground level. [8] They emerge from a stem beneath the ground, a rhizome, that allows the plants to regenerate after fire. Flowers occur in spring and summer on branched stem to a metre or more. Black hairs occur along the flowers and stems. [9]
The black and green color of the inflorescence is unusual in Australian plants, where it is only present in a few species of grevillea and another south-western species, Kennedia nigricans (black kennedia). The perianth curves back in an irregular form, leaving a tube between 12 and 18 mm long; the total length of this is 50 to 60 mm. [3]
Macropidia fuliginosa can be germinated from seed for cultivation, but with difficulty, [3] commercial production instead uses tissue culture as a means of propagation. It is not as widely propagated as the kangaroos paws of Anigozanthus , whose species are hardier and more successfully cultivated. [10]
It is classified as 'not threatened', within the Western Australian Flora Conservation Taxa. [8] [11]
Macropidia fuliginosa is found in a distribution range extending north from Muchea to Walkaway, favouring low mallee and heath vegetation on white or lateritic sand of the Southwest Australia bioregion. The population is uncommon and widely dispersed, usually occurring as isolated individuals instead of several plants growing together in a clump. [3]
It is pollinated by nectar feeding birds, those observed are the Meliphagidae (honeyeater) species, the tawny-crowned Gliciphila melanops , singing Gavicalis virescens , brown Lichmera indistincta , and white-cheeked honeyeater Phylidonyris niger . [3] [12]
When affected by disease it can be burned back to the ground and will regrow from the rhizome. Like many Australian natives it can withstand bushfire in the wild. [13] It is subject to fungal diseases such as the ink-spot fungus, and the rust fungus Puccinia haemodora. [14]
The plant is difficult to propagate from seed, and usually cultivated by tissue culture. [3]
Haemodoraceae is a family of perennial herbaceous angiosperms containing 15 genera and 102 known species, sometimes known as the "bloodroots", found throughout the Southern Hemisphere, from Australia and New Guinea to South Africa, as well as the Americas.
Anigozanthos is a genus of plant found naturally in the Southwestern Australia biogeographic region, belonging to 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 colour of their flowers. A further species, previously identified as Anigozanthos fuliginosus, was separated to a monotypic genus as Macropidia fuliginosa. All 11 species of Anigozanthos are endemic to the south west of Western Australia, Noongar Boodjar.
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.
Banksia candolleana, commonly known as the propeller banksia, is a species of shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has shiny green, deeply serrated leaves with triangular lobes and spikes of golden yellow flowers on short side branches.
Banksia occidentalis, commonly known as the red swamp banksia, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, linear, sparsely serrated leaves, golden flowers in a cylindrical spike, and later up to sixty follicles in each spike.
Banksia tricuspis, commonly known as Lesueur banksia or pine banksia, is a plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a stunted tree or shrub with narrow leaves and cylindrical spikes of golden-coloured flowers and it occurs in a geographic range of just 15 square kilometres near Jurien.
Banksia victoriae, commonly known as woolly orange banksia, is a species of large shrub or small tree in the plant genus Banksia. It occurs in Western Australia between Northampton, Western Australia and Kalbarri, with the occasional plant further north as far as Zuytdorp Nature Reserve.
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.
Banksia nana, commonly known as dwarf dryandra, is a species of shrub that is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It has underground stems, pinnatipartite leaves with sharply-pointed lobes, pale green or yellow flowers and broadly egg-shaped follicles.
Banksia shuttleworthiana, commonly known as bearded dryandra, is a species of low, spreading shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has thin, woolly-hairy stems, linear pinnatisect leaves, creamy brown to purplish flowers in heads of about forty and later, only a few egg-shaped follicles in each head.
Verticordia grandis is a large woody shrub that occurs in Southwest Australia. The name grandis, Latin for large, is a reference to its large flowers, leaves, and height. It is well known for its large flowers, which are collected and cultivated, and given the informal name of scarlet featherflower. It was the first species of the family Myrtaceae to have been genetically modified.
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 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.
Kennedia coccinea, commonly known as coral vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a twining, climbing or prostrate shrub with trifoliate leaves and orange-pink, red and pink, pea-like flowers.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
Anigozanthos onycis, the branched catspaw, is a rarely seen plant found in Southwest Australia.