Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

Description:
Photographer:

Description: Anigozanthos flavidus 'Spence's Spectacular', Taken: 22 January 2019, [HERBARIUM SPECIMEN] ACRA NO: Acc 318 Copyright : Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR) holds copyright
Photographer: Palmer, R.

Anigozanthos 'Spence's Spectacular'

File Number

318

ACRA Field Book Number

36

Registration Date

20/10/1988

Application Received

01/11/1982

Family

Haemodoraceae

Cultivar Name

Anigozanthos 'Spence's Spectacular'

Origin

Anigozanthos 'Spence's Spectacular' is a hybrid of A. preissii and A. flavidus. It was bred by I R Dixon of Western Australia and named for the late Tom Spence, a past Director of the Perth Zoo. The cultivar was first received by the Authority in November 1982. The applicant is Mr John Hickman on behalf of the Perth Zoo Social Club, South Perth.

Characteristics

The stems are up to 0.8m tall, almost glabrous but becoming more hairy towards the inflorescence. The flowers are in brached racemes on stalks to ca. 7mm long. The stem is covered with plumose hairs which is red over the ovary, gradually becoming light orange and then darkening towards the lobes giving a dull red brown appearance. The perianth tube is ca. 4.5cm long with dense, plumose silvery hairs inside. The anthers are linear and not as long as the filaments, with a very prominent brown appendage on the connective. There are at least 12 ovules per locule. Diagnosis: The cultivar differs form A. preissii in having a shorter corolla tube and the two outer lobes are more reflexed. The flowering stem is more branched, generally having three branches (A. preisii only having two). The length of the flowering stem is much longer than A.preisssii. The leaves are much broader, a deeper green with a tinge of red and longer than A. preissii. They are deciduous and usually die off by mid summer in Western Australia. Anigozanthos 'Spence's Spectacular' has a longer and much broader corolla tube than A. flavidus. The anthers are green with a light brown tinge. They are always orange on A. flavidus and bend back at an angle of 45 degrees. The flower stems are much shorter than A. flavidus and are less branched. The leaves ar more upright and narrower than A. flavidus and they are not evergreen. It is similar to Anigozanthos 'Regal Claw', but is darker in colour than Anigozanthos 'Regal Claw'.

Cultivation

Anigozanthos 'Spence's Spectacular' has a flowering season from October to November in WA. It has been in cultivation since 1972. Vegetative propagation must be used to preserve the cultivar form.

Publication

ACRA (2000), List of Registered Cultivars derived from Australian native flora:

Colour Coding

RHS Colour Chart 1966perianth tube: overall colour varies from red group 44A to yellowgreen group 151Dleaves: green group 138A

Propagation

Division or tissue culture

Applicant Name

Perth Zoo Social Club

Uses

As part of a mass planting or mixed in a shrubbery, or as a spectacular feature plant. Attracts nectar feeding birds.

Availability

Unknown

ANBG Accession Numbers

Accession Number 318.

NSL ID

-