Protea cynaroides
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 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.
Q25314
flowering plant
Concept
Q227822
Protea
Concept
Q587369
flower head
Concept
Q258
South Africa
LOC
Q195861
fynbos
Concept
Q258
South Africa
LOC
Q7916473
vase life
Concept
Q1930962
Protea cynaroides
Concept
Q1930962
Protea cynaroides
Concept
+81^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
81
NUMBER
parent taxon
endemic to
endemic to
country