Editing Anigozanthos (section)

==Description==
[[File:Anigozanthos.flavidus2.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Tall kangaroo paw (''Anigozanthos flavidus'').]]
These [[Perennial plant|perennials]] are [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to dry sandy, [[silica|siliceous]] areas of southwest Australia, but they occur as well in a variety of other environments and soil types. They are grown commercially in Australia, the United States, Japan and Israel.

The plant grows from short, underground, horizontal [[rhizome]]s. The length and the character of these may vary between the species: some are fleshy, others are fragile. The [[sap]] in the [[root]] system allows the plants to survive extreme dry spells. In summer, a number of species die back to the rhizome, growing back in autumn.

The plants have a basal [[Rosette (botany)|rosette]] of long green to greyish-green [[Leaf|leaves]]. The leaves of some species are hairy. From the heart of this roset merge long leafless stalks, which can reach 2 m, ending in a raceme of [[flower]]s. The size and height of these stalks, which can be clothed in coloured hairs, varies between the species.

The [[tuber]]ous flower [[bud]]s are also covered with coloured hairs, giving it a velvety aspect. These long furry hairs also determine the colour of the flower, which may range from almost black to yellow, orange and red. Some species are even dichromatic (as ''Anigozanthos manglesii''). The tubular form of the flower bud resembles a kangaroo paw, hence its name. The flower tip spreads fanlike into six petals. Full-grown plants can have up to ten flowers at the end of each stalk.