Another post on wild flowers for Jude’s challenge – Proteas this time – specially for Maurice over at iAMsafari. Hiking in the mountains or along the coast here in the Cape and you’re bound to come across a number of different protea. They’re a magnificent genus from the King protea to the spiderheads, blackbeards, silkypuffs, pincushions, cones, etc and pretty rife with showy species. There are about 360 different species in southern Africa; Australia has many more – 800 (according to the Sasol Field Guide).
You’re spoiling us with those magnificent flowers, Liz. And as it’s my birthday today your timing is spot on!!! Thank you so much for this wonderful post.
Such beauty and I never knew that Australia also has proteas until very recently. Actually that Leucospermum cordifolium looks very much like a Banksia in your photo, which now makes sense as Banksias are in the family Proteaceae. Thank you so much for sharing these Liz.
Yes it’s fascinating how it all fits.
South Africa is certainly the Protea capital. Wonderful diversity and colour. Thanks for sharing:-)
I like protea, but it is leucospermum that I love!
Yes they’re very stylish – love their rugged structure – completely imperturbable in the elements.
Such a long-lasting cut flower, too.
Wow, gorgeous images
Thanks 🙂
We get a single stem of protea in a bouquet here sometimes, very expensive!
Hope they last 🙂
Very exotic (to me), and very nice!
Thanks Bente – they’re amazingly hardy and thrive in poor soil and survive harsh wind.