Proteaceae – Protea family
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Published : January 23, 2017
| Last modified on July 4th, 2017 at 2:20 pm
The protea family, Proteaceae, consists of 77 genera and 1600 species.
Description of the family:
Trees, shrubs or suffrutices. Stipules 0. Leaves alternate (in ours), simple, entire to toothed or pinnatifid (Grevillea). Inflorescence a raceme, spike or head. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic. Perianth 4-merous, the segments differentiated into a swollen base, narrow claw and expanded terminal limb, with the tube splitting before the limb to release a loop of the style. Stamens 4. Ovary superior, 1-locular. Fruit a follicle, capsule, drupe or nut.
Worldwide:
77 genera and 1600 species, in tropical and subtropical areas, especially the southern hemisphere and in particular S Africa and Australia.
Zimbabwe:
5 genera and 19 taxa
- Faurea Harv.
- Grevillea R.Br. ex Knight
- Leucospermum R. Br.
- Macadamia F. Muell.
- Protea L.
