Kangaroo Paw
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The Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos manglesii), (Anigozanthos flavidus), (Macropidia fuliginosa) is a flowering plant endemic to Western Australia. It belongs to the Haemodoraceae family, of which there are 11 species. The flower grows in direct sunlight and prefers dry conditions. It is easily propagated by seed. This flower is the floral emblem for Western Australia.
The variety that is used as the emblem has a red stem with green claws. It is pollinated by birds who gather the nectar from the bulbous portion below each petal the pollen is held out on long fingers which look like claws hence the name and deposited on the backs of the birds. It grows naturally along the sandy coastal plain of the South West region of Western Australia. There is also a rarer variety of Green/Black found naturally.
They flower during spring (August - October). The native flower grows to approximately 1 meter high with a single flower on each stem. There has been a hybrid developed by the nursery industry which have a significantly longer flowering season, and a larger variety of colours.
External links
- [Australian National Botanic Gardens]
- [Ramm Botanical] (commercial grower / supplier, has information on growing and caring for the plant)
- [Different subspecies]
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