Protea cynaroides, also called the king protea, is a flowering plant. It is a distinctive member of Protea, having the largest flower head in the genus. The species is also known as giant protea, honeypot or king sugar bush. It is widely distributed in the southwestern and southern parts of South Africa in the fynbos region.
The king protea is the national flower[2] of South Africa. It also is the flagship of the Protea Atlas Project, run by the South African National Botanical Institute.
The king protea has several colour forms and horticulturists have recognized 81 garden varieties, some of which have injudiciously been planted in its natural range. In some varieties the pink of the flower and red borders of leaves are replaced by a creamy yellow. This unusual flower has a long vase life in flower arrangements, and makes for an excellent dried flower.
Protea cynaroides is adapted to survive wildfires by its thick underground stem, which contains many dormant buds; these will produce the new growth after the fire.
Protea cynaroides from The botanist, vol. 4: t. 166 (1840)
Protea cynaroides is a species of protea in the huge family Proteaceae. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. It has Gondwanan distribution, which means that it is mainly spread across the Southern Hemisphere, from Southern Africa, across to Australia, to South America, although certain species are also found in equatorial Africa, India, southern Asia and Oceania[3] as well.
Protea cynaroides is further placed within the subfamily Proteoideae, which is found mainly in Southern Africa. This subfamily is defined as those species having cluster roots, solitary ovules and indehiscent fruits. Proteoideae is further divided into four tribes: Conospermeae, Petrophileae, Proteae and Leucadendreae.[4] The genus Protea, and hence P. cynaroides, is placed under the tribe Proteae.
Etymology
The name of the plant family Proteaceae as well as the genus Protea, both to which P. cynaroides belongs to, derive from the name of the Greek god Proteus, a deity that was able to change between many forms. This is an appropriate image, seeing as both the family and the genus are known for their astonishing variety and diversity of flowers and leaves.
The specific epithet cynaroides refers to the artichoke-like appearance of the flower-heads: the artichoke belongs to the genus Cynara.
Description
P. cynaroides is a woody shrub with thick stems and large dark green, glossy leaves. Most plants are one metre in height when mature, but may vary according to locality and habitat from 0.35 to 2 metres (1 ft 2 in to 6 ft 7 in) in height. The "flowers" of P. cynaroides are actually composite flower heads (termed an inflorescence) with a collection of flowers in the centre, surrounded by large colourful bracts, from about 120 to 300 millimetres (5 to 12 in) in diameter. Large, vigorous plants produce six to ten flower heads in one season, although some exceptional plants can produce up to forty flower heads on one plant. The colour of the bracts varies from a creamy white to a deep crimson, but the soft pale pink bracts with a silvery sheen are the most prized.
Ecology
Protea cynaroides grows in a harsh environment with dry, hot summers and wet, cold winters. Several adaptions include tough, leathery leaves, which helps to prevent excessive loss of moisture, and a large taproot which penetrates deep into the soil to reach underground moisture. Like most other Proteaceae, P. cynaroides has proteoid roots, roots with dense clusters of short lateral rootlets that form a mat in the soil just below the leaf litter. These enhance solubilisation of nutrients, thus allowing nutrient uptake in the low-nutrient, phosphorus-deficient soils of its native fynbos habitat.
The flowers are fed at by a range of nectarivorous birds, mainly sunbirds and sugarbirds, including the orange-breasted sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea), southern double-collared sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus), malachite sunbird (Nectarinia famosa), and the Cape sugarbird (Promerops cafer). In order to reach the nectar, the bird must push its bill into the inflorescence. As it does so, its bill and face gets brushed with pollen, thereby allowing for possible pollination.
Like many other Protea species, P. cynaroides is adapted to an environment in which bushfires are essential for reproduction and regeneration. Most Protea species can be placed in one of two broad groups according to their response to fire: reseeders are killed by fire, but fire also triggers the release of their canopy seed bank, thus promoting recruitment of the next generation; resprouters survive fire, resprouting from a lignotuber or, more rarely, epicormic buds protected by thick bark. P. cynaroides is a resprouter as it shoots up new stems from buds in its thick underground stem after a fire.[6]
Sport
The king protea is the national flower[2] of South Africa[7] and as such lends its name to the national cricket team, whose nickname is "the Proteas" In the early 1990s there was a political debate as to how and if the flower should be incorporated onto the national rugby teams shirts, perhaps replacing the controversial springbok.
Gallery
Protea cynaroides 'Arctic Ice' a white cultivar
Western Cape, South Africa
Western Cape, South Africa
On Table Mountain, eastern table, near Mclear Beacon
References
^Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (2020). "Protea cynaroides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T113204772A157948114. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T113204772A157948114.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^ ab. South African Government Information. Government Communications (GCIS). 28 November 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
^Orchard, Anthony E. (ed.). . Flora of Australia, Volume 16: Elaeagnaceae, Proteaceae 1. Melbourne: Australian Biological Resources Study / CSIRO Publishing. Archived from the original on 31 October 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2011. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^Weston, Peter H.; Barker, Nigel P. (2006). "A new suprageneric classification of the Proteaceae, with an annotated checklist of genera". Telopea. 11 (3): 314–344. doi:10.7751/telopea20065733.
^. Proteas Atlas Project. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
^Jamieson, H.G. (July 2001). "Protea cynaroides". South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
Media related to Protea cynaroides at Wikimedia Commons
Protea cynaroides info on PlantZAfrica.com - from the South African National Biodiversity Institute
March 09, 2023
protea, cynaroides, also, called, king, protea, flowering, plant, distinctive, member, protea, having, largest, flower, head, genus, species, also, known, giant, protea, honeypot, king, sugar, bush, widely, distributed, southwestern, southern, parts, south, af. Protea cynaroides also called the king protea is a flowering plant It is a distinctive member of Protea having the largest flower head in the genus The species is also known as giant protea honeypot or king sugar bush It is widely distributed in the southwestern and southern parts of South Africa in the fynbos region Protea cynaroidesConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsOrder ProtealesFamily ProteaceaeGenus ProteaSpecies P cynaroidesBinomial nameProtea cynaroides L L The king protea is the national flower 2 of South Africa It also is the flagship of the Protea Atlas Project run by the South African National Botanical Institute The king protea has several colour forms and horticulturists have recognized 81 garden varieties some of which have injudiciously been planted in its natural range In some varieties the pink of the flower and red borders of leaves are replaced by a creamy yellow This unusual flower has a long vase life in flower arrangements and makes for an excellent dried flower Protea cynaroides is adapted to survive wildfires by its thick underground stem which contains many dormant buds these will produce the new growth after the fire Contents 1 Taxonomy 1 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Ecology 4 Sport 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksTaxonomy Edit Protea cynaroides from The botanist vol 4 t 166 1840 Protea cynaroides is a species of protea in the huge family Proteaceae The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species It has Gondwanan distribution which means that it is mainly spread across the Southern Hemisphere from Southern Africa across to Australia to South America although certain species are also found in equatorial Africa India southern Asia and Oceania 3 as well Protea cynaroides is further placed within the subfamily Proteoideae which is found mainly in Southern Africa This subfamily is defined as those species having cluster roots solitary ovules and indehiscent fruits Proteoideae is further divided into four tribes Conospermeae Petrophileae Proteae and Leucadendreae 4 The genus Protea and hence P cynaroides is placed under the tribe Proteae Etymology Edit The name of the plant family Proteaceae as well as the genus Protea both to which P cynaroides belongs to derive from the name of the Greek god Proteus a deity that was able to change between many forms This is an appropriate image seeing as both the family and the genus are known for their astonishing variety and diversity of flowers and leaves The specific epithet cynaroides refers to the artichoke like appearance of the flower heads the artichoke belongs to the genus Cynara Description EditP cynaroides is a woody shrub with thick stems and large dark green glossy leaves Most plants are one metre in height when mature but may vary according to locality and habitat from 0 35 to 2 metres 1 ft 2 in to 6 ft 7 in in height The flowers of P cynaroides are actually composite flower heads termed an inflorescence with a collection of flowers in the centre surrounded by large colourful bracts from about 120 to 300 millimetres 5 to 12 in in diameter Large vigorous plants produce six to ten flower heads in one season although some exceptional plants can produce up to forty flower heads on one plant The colour of the bracts varies from a creamy white to a deep crimson but the soft pale pink bracts with a silvery sheen are the most prized Ecology EditProtea cynaroides grows in a harsh environment with dry hot summers and wet cold winters Several adaptions include tough leathery leaves which helps to prevent excessive loss of moisture and a large taproot which penetrates deep into the soil to reach underground moisture Like most other Proteaceae P cynaroides has proteoid roots roots with dense clusters of short lateral rootlets that form a mat in the soil just below the leaf litter These enhance solubilisation of nutrients thus allowing nutrient uptake in the low nutrient phosphorus deficient soils of its native fynbos habitat The flowers are fed at by a range of nectarivorous birds mainly sunbirds and sugarbirds including the orange breasted sunbird Anthobaphes violacea southern double collared sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus malachite sunbird Nectarinia famosa and the Cape sugarbird Promerops cafer In order to reach the nectar the bird must push its bill into the inflorescence As it does so its bill and face gets brushed with pollen thereby allowing for possible pollination A Cape sugarbird feeding from the flower Along with birds a host of insects are attracted to the flowerhead such as bees for example the Cape honeybee and various beetle species such as rove beetles and the beetles of the huge family Scarabaeidae such as the protea beetle Trichostetha fascicularis and monkey beetles 5 Like many other Protea species P cynaroides is adapted to an environment in which bushfires are essential for reproduction and regeneration Most Protea species can be placed in one of two broad groups according to their response to fire reseeders are killed by fire but fire also triggers the release of their canopy seed bank thus promoting recruitment of the next generation resprouters survive fire resprouting from a lignotuber or more rarely epicormic buds protected by thick bark P cynaroides is a resprouter as it shoots up new stems from buds in its thick underground stem after a fire 6 Sport EditThe king protea is the national flower 2 of South Africa 7 and as such lends its name to the national cricket team whose nickname is the Proteas In the early 1990s there was a political debate as to how and if the flower should be incorporated onto the national rugby teams shirts perhaps replacing the controversial springbok Gallery Edit Protea cynaroides Arctic Ice a white cultivar Western Cape South Africa Western Cape South Africa On Table Mountain eastern table near Mclear BeaconReferences Edit Rebelo A G Mtshali H von Staden L 2020 Protea cynaroides IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T113204772A157948114 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 3 RLTS T113204772A157948114 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 a b About government National flower South African Government Information Government Communications GCIS 28 November 2007 Archived from the original on 26 September 2011 Retrieved 14 October 2011 Orchard Anthony E ed Proteaceae Flora of Australia Volume 16 Elaeagnaceae Proteaceae 1 Melbourne Australian Biological Resources Study CSIRO Publishing Archived from the original on 31 October 2006 Retrieved 15 August 2011 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a author has generic name help Weston Peter H Barker Nigel P 2006 A new suprageneric classification of the Proteaceae with an annotated checklist of genera Telopea 11 3 314 344 doi 10 7751 telopea20065733 Pollination of Proteas Proteas Atlas Project Archived from the original on 27 September 2011 Retrieved 14 October 2011 Jamieson H G July 2001 Protea cynaroides South African National Biodiversity Institute Retrieved 14 October 2011 YouTube youtube com Retrieved 13 January 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link External links Edit Media related to Protea cynaroides at Wikimedia Commons Protea cynaroides info on PlantZAfrica com from the South African National Biodiversity Institute Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Protea cynaroides amp oldid 1123911512, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
