King Protea

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King Protea description Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Proteales Family Proteaceae Genus Protea With its massive, bowl shaped inflorescences, the King Protea is one of the most spectacular members of the Proteaceae family, and as a result, has been designated the national flower of South Africa. The King Protea is a woody shrub, with thick stems leading to clusters of pink or crimson coloured flowers, arranged into large flower heads that are surrounded by large, narrow, colourful bracts, and flattened, paddle-shaped leaves. The appearance of the King Protea varies substantially throughout its range, and an astonishing 81 variants have been used in horticulture. However, the variants with pale pink…show more content…
The range of these flowering plants also extends into mountain ranges of 1,500 meters above sea level The King Protea is endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa, where it is found from Cedarberg in the northwest, to Grahamstown in the east. The King Protea is one of the most widely distributed members of the Protea species in South Africa. The King Protea is endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa.. Naturally, their habitat is one of fynbos shrublands. Despite efforts, experts are unable to give a proper estimate as to the current population of this rare flowering plant. This is the reason why this species status has not yet been classified by the…show more content…
There are around 80 genera of the Proteacae family, with up to 1,600 species spread across the southern hemisphere in paleographical region of Gondwana – Southern Africa, Australia and South America. The Protea Atlas Project at the South African National Biodiversity Institute at Kirstenbosch in Cape Town records the geographical location of proteas with the aim of encouraging public awareness of botany and enjoyment of the veld, and thereby engendering principles of conservation. About 80 percent of Southern Africa's plants are endemic to the region, with up to 14 percent (3,435 species) being in danger of extinction and therefore listed in the IUCN Red Book for plants. The Protea Atlas Project was established to encourage the general public to document, understand and conserve the flora of southern Africa. The project includes all indigenous flora, but focuses on proteas, notable for their incredible diversity and being representative of other plants in the non-arid regions of southern

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