Macropidia

taxobox


image_caption = "Macropidia fuliginosa"
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Monocots
unranked_ordo = Commelinids
ordo = Commelinales
familia = Haemodoraceae
genus = "Macropidia"
species = "M. fuliginosa"
binomial = "Macropidia fuliginosa"
binomial_authority = (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. [ [http://www.anbg.gov.au/anigozanthos/index.html Kangaroo Paws] Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2007-09-29.] [http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1477 Macropidia fuliginosa (Hook.) Druce ] Retrieved 2007-09-30.]

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. [ [http://asgap.org.au/m-fulig.html Macropidia fuliginosa] Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP), 2006-02-20. Retrieved 2007-09-29.]

It is known to be pollinated by the following birds: [ [http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pls/portal30/docs/FOLDER/IKMP/HORT/FLOR/BLACKKANGAROOPAW.PDF Black kangaroo paw] Department of Agriculture, Western Australia. Retrieved 2007-09-29.]
* Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
* Singing Honeyeater
* Brown Honeyeater
* Tawny-crowned Honeyeater
* White-cheeked Honeyeater
* Red Wattlebird

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. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s850734.htm Fact Sheet: Kangaroo Paws] ABC Gardening Australia. Retrieved 2007-09-29.]

It is classified as 'Not threatened', within the Western Australian Flora Conservation Taxa. [ [http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/conservationtaxa Western Australian Flora Conservation Taxa] Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Environment and Conservation, 2006-08-07. Retrieved 2007-09-30.]

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. [ [http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2002/macropidia-fuliginosa.html Macropidia fuliginosa] Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2007-09-29.]

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. [ [http://asgap.org.au/APOL17/mar00-5.html Paws for Reflection] Brian Walters, Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants. Retrieved 2007-09-29.] It is subject to fungal diseases such as the ink-spot fungus, and the rust fungus "Puccinia haemodora". [ [http://asgap.org.au/paws1.html Kangaroo Paws: Pests and Diseases] Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP), 2006-02-04. Retrieved 2007-09-29.]

[
Botanical Magazine", 4317.]

ee also

*Kangaroo Paw

References