The Kurulbrang is a plant from Noongar Country.[1] It is known in English as the Kangaroo Paw. The English name has been translated into Noongar as Yonga Marr wer that name is now also used by Noongar. The English name of the plant was derived from the shape of the flowers, which resemble the paws of a Yonga (Grey Kangaroo). These perennial plants are noted for their unique djert attracting flowers. The tubular flowers open at the apex with six claw-like structures.
Nartj Waarnk
editLike many Australian native plants they can withstand bushfire. When affected by disease it can be burned back to the boodjar wer will regrow from the rhizome.
Eleven 'Kangaroo Paws' wer the similar 'Cats Paws' are in the genus Anigozanthos of the family Haemodoraceae. The exception is the Nollamara (Black Kangaroo Paw) (Macropidia fuliginosa)[2] which is the sole species of the genus Macropidia of the same family.
The Red wer Green Kangaroo Paw (scientific name Anigozanthos manglesii) is the state flower for WA.[3]
Digby Growns, senior plant breeder at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, has been working on breeding more disease resistant varieties:[4]
| “ | They are fire ephemerals, so they don't live long in nature. After a fire they will come up and there will be heaps of them and then two years later you probably wouldn't see many of them in the landscape. They haven't evolved to be super disease-tolerant and long-lived. People love these but they suffer classically from rust, rust-coloured pustules, and ink spot, which is black. Those two diseases normally kill most of these plants when you put them in the garden. | ” |
Use
editKurulbrang have edible tuberous roots with high levels of stored starch, which can be eaten.[1]
See also
edit- Koroylbardany (Green Kangaroo Paw)
- Nollamara (Black Kangaroo Paw) for the sole representative of a different species, but also commonly called a Kangaroo Paw plant.
- Fact Sheet: Kangaroo Paws 05 March 2005. Gardening Australia, ABC. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- Fact Sheet: Kangaroo Paws 09 May 2003. Gardening Australia, ABC. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
Ngiyan waarnk - References
edit- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Plants and People in Mooro Country - Nyungar Plant Use in Yellagonga Regional Park. City of Joondalup. Retrieved 30 August 2016
- ↑ Macropidia Harv. FloraBase, the West Australian Flora. Retrieved 25 May 2016
- ↑ "Red and Green Kangaroo Paw Anigozanthos manglesii". Australian National Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 13 January 2017
- ↑ Emma Wynne. "Researchers aim to map genome of WA's distinctive kangaroo paw, opening door to new colours". ABC News. ABC Radio Perth. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020