The King protea (Protea cynaroides) was ‘crowned’ South Africa’s national flower in 1976. This is one of the most famous proteas in the world and appears as an emblem on many South African products. So why is it so special?
Keep reading to learn about some interesting facts about this large genus of flowering plant…
The King
The King protea, named after its resemblance to a crown, is the largest of all proteas and is found in the Cape Floristic region. It symbolises diversity and courage. If you look closely on your South African birth certificates and passports you will notice the flower. It also appears on a 5-Rand coin. Come to think about it, where did the ‘Proteas’, South Africa’s cricket team get inspiration for their name… I wonder?
Blooming whilst dinosaurs roamed
That’s right! These special plants were blooming as dinosaurs roamed our planet. It is believed Proteas date back millions of years. Three hundred million, approximately. They are considered to be among the oldest families of flowering plants on the planet. Now that is impressive. As Proteas naturally occur in the Southern hemisphere, it is believed the protea genus originated on the super-continent Gondwana. The separation of the continent allowed them to spread across different continents and countries including Australia, New Zealand and South America. In fact, the name “protea” was inspired by Greek mythology, being named after Proteus, son of Poseidon and shape-shifter, demonstrating the variety of plants found within the Proteaceae family. A large and diverse family it is.
Nectar points
Proteas, also known as sugarbushes, have flowers that produce excessive amount of nectar. It is not surprising that it is popular to wildlife such as baboons, birds and insects. One single King Protea flower head may contain dozens of different insect species. Proteas have also occupied an important part of human history in the Cape. The nectar was used to make sugar and ink created from their leaves, to name a few.
From the ashes they rise
Proteas can survive wildfires; dormant buds survive the wildfires and emerge once the fire has gone out, a very effective survival strategy. These plants are hardy and can withstand the toughest of weather conditions. All proteas have a proteoid root system that allows them to survive in soil that isn’t rich in nutrients. No wonder why they have survived for so long.
It is not surprising why this flower is so special to South Africa and is named the ‘King’.
Come back next Friday for more interesting facts, #factfriday !
