Anigozanthos plant named Bush Emerald

#The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw), named Bush Emerald. Kangaroo Paw is the popular name applied to all species of the botanical genera Anigozanthos Labill and Macropidia Harv and their variants and hybrids.

#Anigozanthos Labill is a genus of eleven described species of herbaceous perennial plants of the family Haemodoraceae, and which are endemic to the south-western region of western Australia. These species, together with the closely allied monotype Macropidia fuliginosa (Hook.) Druce, are as above noted jointly referred to by the popular common name Kangaroo Paws.

#Wild populations of Kangaroo Paws grow in a warm temperature Mediterranean climate (Summer drought). Vitality is at a minimum in late Summer/early Autumn, and some species show or tend to a full deciduous dormancy at this time. Active vegetative growth is reinstated with the onset of lower temperatures and rainfall in the Autumn (Fall). The flowering season varies considerably between species, but the display period is normally of several months somewhere within the range of late Winter to mid-Summer.

#The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the new cultivar, with the colors being as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photograph at the top is a perspective view of a plant of Bush Emerald and the photograph at the bottom is an enlarged showing of the flower.

#The following is a detailed description of Bush Emerald based on plants produced at Bush Gems Garden Nursery in Monbulk, Victoria, Australia. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Terms used have the same meaning and significance as those used and defined above regarding the characteristics of propagation, plant form, habit of growth, foliage, flowers and rhizome common and general to all plants of Anigozanthos.

#Parentage: A hybrid of two selected genotypes of the species Anigozanthos viridis Endl. (seed parent) and Anigozanthos manglesii D. Don (pollen parent).

#Propagation: Asexual by: (A) Rhizome divisions; optimum period late Summer to early Fall. (B) "In vitro" proliferation of multiple shoots from plants of apical meristem with immediate leaf primordia, with a five-fold multiplication occurring each four to five weeks on appropriate media. Rooting in four to six weeks "in vivo" at approximately 20 degrees Celsius root zone temperature in high relative humidity environment. Use of anti-transpirant sprays beneficial.