the.com/protea
named for a shape-shifting god because it refused to pick just one face
means Protea is a genus of striking South African flowering shrubs whose blooms range wildly in form and color, often grown as ornamental cut flowers.
from Named by Linnaeus in the 18th century after Proteus, the shape-shifting sea god of Greek myth who could become anything to escape capture — a nod to the genus's extraordinary variety of flower forms. The original Greek 'Proteus' itself may relate to 'protos,' meaning 'first.'
- oldest flower
- family dates back 300 million years
- national flower
- the king protea crowns South Africa
- fire-dependent
- some species need flames to release seeds
- named after
- Proteus, Greek god of constant change
- bird-fed
- sunbirds pollinate them, not just insects
for instance
king protea — south africa's national flower, native to the cape floral region
protea cynaroides — the largest protea species, found in western cape, south africa
protea repens — common protea species flowering in south african fynbos landscape