Kangaroo paw is a common name

Common name

A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...

 for a number of species, in two genera of the family Haemodoraceae

Haemodoraceae

Haemodoraceae is a family of flowering plants. It is sometimes known as the "Bloodwort family". Primarily a Southern Hemisphere family, they are found in South Africa, Australia and New Guinea, and in the Americas Haemodoraceae is a family of flowering plants. It is sometimes known as the...

, that are endemic

Endemic (ecology)

Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...

 to the south-west of Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

. These perennial plants are noted for their unique bird attracting flowers. The tubular flowers are coated with dense hairs and open at the apex with six claw-like structures: from this paw formation the common name "Kangaroo Paw" is derived.

From the genus Anigozanthos

Anigozanthos

Anigozanthos is a small genus of Australian plants in the Bloodwort family Haemodoraceae. The 11 species and several subspecies are commonly known as kangaroo paw and catspaw depending on the shape of their flowers...

these include:

• Anigozanthos bicolor Endl. (Little Kangaroo Paw)
• Anigozanthos flavidus
  Anigozanthos flavidus
  Anigozanthos flavidus is a species of plant found in Southwest Australia. It is member of the Haemodoraceae family. It is commonly known as the tall, yellow, or evergreen, kangaroo paw...
  
  DC. (Tall Kangaroo Paw)
  • This species is found in extreme south western corner of Western Australia and is the most robust species. It adapts well to a variety of soil and weather conditions and is used extensively by the horticultural industry to develop hybrids. The flower stems can grow to over 1.5 metres with abundant flowers being green/yellow.
• Anigozanthos gabrielae Domin (Dwarf Kangaroo Paw)
• Anigozanthos manglesii
  Anigozanthos manglesii
  Anigozanthos manglesii, commonly known as the Red and Green Kangaroo Paw or Mangles Kangaroo Paw, is a plant species endemic to Western Australia, and the floral emblem of that state....
  
  D.Don (Mangles Kangaroo Paw)
• Anigozanthos pulcherrimus Hook. (Yellow Kangaroo Paw)
  
  • This species flowers in late spring through to early summer with golden yellow flowers on stems to 1.2 metres and is found naturally on the sand plains between Perth
    Perth, Western Australia
    Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
    
     and Geraldton.
• Anigozanthos rufus Labill. (Red Kangaroo Paw)
• Anigozanthos viridis Endl. (Green Kangaroo Paw)
  • Anigozanthos viridis subsp. terraspectans Hopper (Dwarf Green Kangaroo Paw)

From the genus Macropidia

Macropidia

Macropidia fuliginosa, the sole species of genus Macropidia, is a perennial rhizomatous 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.-Description and reproduction:A small perennial...

:

• Macropidia fuliginosa (Hook.) Druce (Black Kangaroo Paw)

External links

• Gardening Australia Kangaroo paws factsheet