PROFILE: AUSFLORA
Are Protea Native to Australia? By Linda Sijpkes, Ausflora Pacific
Isopogon species, Australian Native
The short answer to this question is… no. But where does the myth that they are native come from? Plants have names just like we do, all plants are given a botanical name consisting of a first name known as Genus (plural Genera) and a second name known as species, these are usually Latin names and are italicised when written with only the first letter of the genus capitalised. Genera are then grouped by the features they share these groups are known as a plant family. The system of naming plants this way has been in use since the 1700’s when it was developed by Carl Linnaeus a famous botanist of the time.
The genus Protea is part of a large plant family mainly found in the Southern hemisphere called the Proteaceae family which contains approximately 80 Genera and 1600 species. The largest range of Proteaceae are found in Australia and South Africa, however they can also be found in Madagascar, South East Asia, New Guinea and New Zealand. It is believed that the Proteaceae family diversified over 90 million years ago on the super continent of Gondwana. Named after the Greek god Proteus who took on many forms, The Proteaceae family is an incredibly diverse family of plants ranging from shrubs to large trees, small flowers to large flowers and fine foliage to large leaf. All Proteaceae plants have a proteoid root system, which is a specialised root system that forms clusters of roots usually
Lambertia formosa, Australian Native
Protea cynaroides aka King Protea, South African Native which symbolises diversity and courage and is its countries National Flower
Hakea sericea, Australian Native
Protea scolymocephla, South African Native
Leucadendron argenteum aka Silver Tree, South African Native
GROUNDSWELL MIFGS 2022
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