Gen.era: 1700 speciesNames: Protea derives from the Greek god Proteus, a deity changing between many forms.
Botany: astonishing variety and diversity of flowers and leaves.
TaxonomyIn the
Apg3 classification Proteaceae is placed in the Order
Proteales, together with
Nelumbonaceae and
Platanaceae.
This family is peculiar in the sense of its abundance in the southern hemisphere, South Africa and Australia and lack of presence in other regions of the world.