Анігозантос

The plant

The plants grow from short, underground, horizontal rhizomes. The sap in the root system allows the plants to survive extreme dry spells. Long leafless stalks, which can reach 2 m, end in a raceme of flowers. The flower buds are covered with coloured hairs, giving them a velvety aspect. The colour of the flower may range from almost black to yellow, orange and red. The tubular form of the flower bud resembles a kangaroo paw, hence its name.

Pollination

The flowers appear over spring and summer and are pollinated by birds. The long flower-stalks usually rise above the undergrowth and advertise the presence of nectar in the flowers. The stalks also provide a perch for visiting birds.

Names and species

The common name kangaroo paw was initially given to Anigozanthos manglesii and came to be used for other species of Anigozanthos as they became known. A further species, previously identified as Anigozanthos fuliginosus, was separated to a monotypic genus as Macropidia fuliginosa.

Cultivation

Numerous hybrids and cultivars have been developed for cultivation and floristry in recent years. Kangaroo paws are much in demand as house plants and as cut flowers. They are grown commercially in Australia, the United States, Japan and Israel. Most species are dormant over winter, and some die back completely. Plant performance in the garden declines after 3 to 5 years, so kangaroo paws are best regarded as short-lived plants. A major disease of kangaroo paws is a fungus which causes ink disease.

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