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46 July Design 46 July Protea Fun Facts • Proteaceae is considered to be one of the oldest plant families on Earth. Studies suggest that the genus Protea subsisted on the supercontinent of Gondwana, which existed as early as 510 million years ago and broke up 120 to 180 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period, when magma bubbled up and rifted the supercontinent apart. Gondwana comprised land areas that are today known as Antarctica; South America; Africa and Madagascar; the Arabian Peninsula (Arabia); Australasia (Australia and New Zealand); and the Indian subcontinent, including the island country of Sri Lanka. • Protea is named for the Greek god Proteus, the protector of rivers and seas. Proteus, a son of Poseidon, the Olympian god of the sea, had the ability to change shape and form to avoid capture by his enemy. The name is fi tting because Protea come in a multitude of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. • Protea cynaroides (king Protea) is South Africa's national fl ower. • The outer ring of petals on Protea cynaroides (king Protea) resembles a crown; hence, its common name. • In the 1800s, nectar from Protea was used medicinally to calm coughs. • Protea plants are hardy and can withstand the toughest of weather conditions. For example, dormant buds can survive wildfi res, emerging once the fi re has gone out and bringing new life. Protea obtusifolia jester Protea, jester sugarbush, limestone Protea, limestone sugarbush (a popular variety is 'Holiday Red') Protea repens (formerly P. mellifera) common sugarbush, honey fl ower, honey Protea (popular varieties include 'Ruby Blush' and 'Honey Glow') Protea neriifolia oleander-leaf sugarbush, narrow-leaf sugarbush (popular varieties include 'Pink Mink', 'Cream Mink', 'Green Ice', 'Ruby', 'Frosted Fire' and 'Silver Tips') Protea laurifolia gray-leaf sugarbush, laurel-leaf sugarbush (popular varieties include 'Rose Mink', 'Pink Owl', 'White Owl', 'Royal Crest' and 'Peach Sheen') Protea coronata (formerly P. macrocephala and P. incompta) apple-green Protea, green sugarbush Protea lepidocarpodendron black Protea, black-beard sugarbush, black mink Protea susannae stink-leaf sugarbush Popular hybrid varieties include the following: 'Pink Ice' (formerly 'Silvan Pink') (a hybrid of P. susannae and either P. neriifolia or P. compacta) 'Sylvia' (P. susannae x eximia) 'Susara' (P. susannae x magnifi ca) 'Pink Princess' (P. compacta x magnifi ca) 'Pink Duke' (P. compacta x magnifi ca) 46 Design

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