Macropidia

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Macropidia
Macropidia fuliginosa
Macropidia fuliginosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Commelinales
Family: Haemodoraceae
Genus: Macropidia
Species: M. fuliginosa
Binomial name
Macropidia fuliginosa
(Hook.) Druce

Macropidia fuliginosa, the sole species of genus Macropidia, is a perennial rhizotomous flowering plant. Commonly known as the Black Kangaroo Paw, it is endemic to Southwest Australia, specifically from Perth to Geraldton in the north of the region.[1][2]


Contents

[edit] Description and reproduction

A small perennial herb with erect green-yellow leaves, occurring with a height between 0.2 to 1.8 metres in height. The leaves are strap-like, between 200 and 500 mm long, and tightly clustered around ground level. 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.[3]

It is known to be pollinated by the following birds:[4]

It can be germinated from seed for cultivation, but commercial production use tissue cultures as a means of propagation. This species is not as widely seen as the Kangaroos Paws of Anigozanthus , whose species are hardier and more successfully cultivated.[5]

It is classified as 'Not threatened', within the Western Australian Flora Conservation Taxa.[2][6]

[edit] Name

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]

[edit] Disease

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.[8] It is subject to fungal diseases such as the ink-spot fungus, and the rust fungus Puccinia haemodora.[9]

"Sooty Anigozanthos", now known as Macropidia fuliginosa - Botanical Magazine, 4317.
"Sooty Anigozanthos", now known as Macropidia fuliginosa - Botanical Magazine, 4317.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kangaroo Paws Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  2. ^ a b Macropidia fuliginosa (Hook.) Druce Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  3. ^ Macropidia fuliginosa Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP), 2006-02-20. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  4. ^ Black kangaroo paw Department of Agriculture, Western Australia. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  5. ^ Fact Sheet: Kangaroo Paws ABC Gardening Australia. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  6. ^ Western Australian Flora Conservation Taxa Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Environment and Conservation, 2006-08-07. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  7. ^ Macropidia fuliginosa Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  8. ^ Paws for Reflection Brian Walters, Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  9. ^ Kangaroo Paws: Pests and Diseases Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP), 2006-02-04. Retrieved 2007-09-29.