The Protea
The King Protea is the national flower of South Africa, and the
flagship species of the Cape Floral Kingdom (they are a typical example
of fynbos). There are about 368 species of protea, the best known of them being the king protea (Protea. cynaroides), sugar-bush (Protea. repens) and the waboom (Protea. nitida).
Proteas create jobs for thousands of farm-labourers, who supply the flowers for the world's cut-flower industry.
Proteas get their name from the Greek sea god Proteus, who could change his form at
will - quite appropriate, given the many unusual shapes of proteas which are found.
Proteas are mostly bird-pollinated. They are shrubs with broad leaves and bloom flame-red and magenta-pink in the summer.
They have somewhat woody stems and are typically
deep-rooted. Protea flowers do not have separate sepals
& petals. Instead, they have what's often called tepals.
Proteas develop little dry fruits containing a single seed.
Some genera (for example, the Leucadendron) have the sexes
separated onto separate plants.
