Kangaroo+Paw

__**Kangaroo Paw**__

Flower bud No. 5 is hidden under No. 4.

__Species:__ Anigozanthos, family: Haemodoraceae Native to South Western Australia __Plant Morphology:__ low lying herb, long green leaves __Flower Morphology:__ tubular flower buds opening in alternation protuberances from the central stem. Tubular flower buds covered in little red hairs giving a velvety appearance. Colour darker red at the proximal end graduating into a bright green on the ends. Open flower buds form a six pointed star or 'paw' shape surrounding the stamen and style leading down the tube to the ovary surrounded by nectaries. The inside of the tubule is bright green and smooth. Flower is hermaphroditic, containing both male and female gametes. The style sits higher than the anthers. __Nectar characterisation:__ Due to the length of time between collection and testing nectar was undetectable but abundant nectar would be expected in a fresh specimen. This sweet nectar attracts low beaked birds and small marsupials to the flower bud enabling pollination. __Pollen characterisation__: The anther is a cylindrical package attached to a filament at the end of the stamen. Different species of Kangaroo paw have different length nectar tubes in order to deposit pollen at specific sites on the head of a visiting bird. This pollen is then deposited at the style of the correct species by the same bird thus preventing cross pollination (Australian National Botanical Gardens).

//Note: Flower buds are numbered from left to right.//
 * **Flower No.** || **Flower Length** || **Condition** || **Dist. bet. stigma and style (mm)** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 1 || 5.5 || dead and tried up || 4.8 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 2 || 5.6 || Mature, partly open || 5 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 3 || 5 || open || 4.5 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 4 || 3.6 || immature, closed || 3.5 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 5 || 2.4 || immature closed || 2 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 6 || 4.2 || mature, closed || 3.75 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 7 || 5 || mature, partly open || 5.1 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Std. Dev. || 1.156 ||  || 1.11 ||   ||   ||   ||

References: Australian National Botanical Gardens www.anbg.gov.au/anigozanthos.index.html accessed on 25/10/12 Gathe, J. & Watson, L. (2008) Florabase Western Australia Flora. florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/profile/21227 accessed on 25/10/12

Rachel W Deborah M