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The eleven species of Kangaroo Paw are native to the south west of Western Australia. The name is derived from the shape of the flowers, which resemble the paw of a kangaroo. The Red and Green Kangaroo Paw is the floral emblem of Western Australia.
Description
Description
Kangaroo Paws grow from short, underground rhizomes. In summer, a number of species die back to the rhizome, growing back in autumn. The plants have long green to greyish-green leaves at their base. They have long leafless stalks, which can reach up to 2 metres in height. At the top of the stalk are tuberous flower buds that fan out like an animal paw. Kangaroo Paws are covered in long furry hairs that determine the colour of the flower, which may range from almost black to yellow, orange and red. They mainly flower in spring, but some species flower year round.
Habitat
Habitat
Kangaroo Paws are native to south west Australia, occurring naturally from the Murchison River in the North to Busselton and Mount Barker in the South, and Lake Muir to the East. It has been developed as a crop in south eastern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Japan, Israel and the United States. Kangaroo Paws grow in a range of habitats, including shrublands, woodland and forests. They grow well in gardens that provide plenty of sunshine, soil with good drainage and reliable watering.
Noongar Relevance
Noongar Relevance
Kangaroo Paws have tuberous roots that contain large amounts of stored starch. The Noongar people traditionally ate these roots similar to the way they ate some orchids and lily species. Root tubers formed an important part of the traditional Noongar diet, and for this reason, it is possible that the roots of Kangaroo Paws were collected and gathered in large quantities. Kangaroo Paws were also used in preparing traditional medicine.
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