the protea is the national flower of south africa, and the flagship species of the cape floral kingdom...
proteas are mostly bird-pollinated...
they are shrubs with broad leaves and bloom flame-red and magenta-pink in the summer...
they have somewhat woody stems and are typically deep-rooted...
protea flowers do not have separate sepals and petals... instead, they have what's often called tepals...
proteas develop little dry fruits containing a single seed... some genera have the sexes separated onto separate plants...
proteas create jobs for thousands of farm-labourers, who supply the flowers for the world's cut-flower industry...
proteas get their name from the greek sea god proteus, who could change his form at will- quite appropriate, given the many unusual shapes of proteas which are found...
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