King Protea
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| Protea cynaroides L. |
The King Protea (Protea cynaroides) is a flowering plant. Its flower head (what the layman will call the 'flower') is the largest in the genus Protea: the species is also known as Giant Protea, Honeypot or King Sugar Bush. It is widely distributed in the southwestern and southern parts of South Africa of the fynbos region.
The King Protea is the National Flower of South Africa. It also is the flagship of the The Protea Atlas Project, run by the South African National Botanical Institute.
This unusual flower has a long vase life in flower arrangements, and makes for an excellent dried flower.
Etymology. The specific epithet cynaroides refers to the artichoke-like appearance of the flower-heads: the artichoke belongs to the genus Cynara.
[edit] External Links
Protea cynaroides info on PlantZAfrica.com - from the South African National Biodiversity Institue
[edit] Image Gallery
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