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"Sugarbush" redirects here. For the ski resort, see Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush Resort

Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort located in the Mad River Valley in Warren, Vermont, Vermont. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England....


Protea is both the botanical name
Botanical name

A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if the plant is a cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants....
 and the English common name of a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes.

The genus Protea was named in 1735 by Carolus Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus

Carl Linnaeus was a Sweden botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern alpha taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology....
 after the Greek god Proteus
Proteus

In Greek mythology, Proteus is an early sea-god, one of several deities whom Homer calls the "Old Man of the Sea", whose name suggests the "first", as protogonos is the "primordial" or the "firstborn"....
 who could change his form at will, because proteas have such different forms. Linneaus's genus was formed by merging a number of genera previously published by Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave

Herman Boerhaave was a Netherlands botanist, Humanism and physician of European fame. He is regarded as the founder of clinical teaching and of the modern academic hospital....
, although precisely which of Boerhaave's genera were included in Linnaeus's Protea varied with each of Linnaeus's publications.

Proteas attracted the attention of botanists visiting the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headlands and bays on the Atlantic Ocean coast of South Africa. There is a very common misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa and the dividing point between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Oceans, but in fact the southernmost point is Cape Agulhas, about 150 kilometres t...
 in the 1600s.






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Encyclopedia


"Sugarbush" redirects here. For the ski resort, see Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush Resort

Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort located in the Mad River Valley in Warren, Vermont, Vermont. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England....


Protea is both the botanical name
Botanical name

A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if the plant is a cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants....
 and the English common name of a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes.

The genus Protea was named in 1735 by Carolus Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus

Carl Linnaeus was a Sweden botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern alpha taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology....
 after the Greek god Proteus
Proteus

In Greek mythology, Proteus is an early sea-god, one of several deities whom Homer calls the "Old Man of the Sea", whose name suggests the "first", as protogonos is the "primordial" or the "firstborn"....
 who could change his form at will, because proteas have such different forms. Linneaus's genus was formed by merging a number of genera previously published by Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave

Herman Boerhaave was a Netherlands botanist, Humanism and physician of European fame. He is regarded as the founder of clinical teaching and of the modern academic hospital....
, although precisely which of Boerhaave's genera were included in Linnaeus's Protea varied with each of Linnaeus's publications.

Proteas attracted the attention of botanists visiting the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headlands and bays on the Atlantic Ocean coast of South Africa. There is a very common misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa and the dividing point between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Oceans, but in fact the southernmost point is Cape Agulhas, about 150 kilometres t...
 in the 1600s. Many species were introduced to Europe in the 1700s, enjoying a unique popularity at the time amongst botanists.

The Proteaceae family to which Proteas belong is an ancient one. Its ancestors grew in Gondwanaland, 300 million years ago. Proteaceae is divided into two subfamilies: the Proteoideae, best represented in southern Africa
Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km? including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area....
, and the Grevilleoideae
Grevillea

Grevillea is a diverse genus of about 360 species of evergreen flowering plants in the protea family Proteaceae, native to Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Sulawesi....
, concentrated in Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
 and South America
South America

South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere....
 and the other smaller segments of Gondwanaland that are now part of eastern Asia
Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population....
. Africa shares only one genus with Madagascar
Madagascar

Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the List of islands by area, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are Endemism to Madagascar....
, whereas South America and Australia share many common genera — this indicates they separated from Africa before they separated from each other.

Most protea occur south of the Limpopo River
Limpopo River

The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size....
. However, Protea kilimanjaro is found in the chaparral zone of Mount Kenya National Park
Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National Park , established in 1949, protects the region surrounding Mount Kenya. Initially is was a forest reserve before being announced as a national park....
. 92% of the species occur only in the Cape Floristic Region
Cape floristic region

The Cape floristic region is a floristic region located in South Africa. It is the only floristic region of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, and includes only one floristic province, known as the Cape floristic province....
, a narrow belt of mountainous coastal land from Clanwilliam to Grahamstown, South Africa. The extraordinary richness and diversity of species characteristic of the Cape Flora is thought to be caused in part by the diverse landscape where populations can become isolated from each other and in time develop into separate species.

Classification

Within the huge family Proteaceae
Proteaceae

Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants. Mainly restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, it is a fairly large family, with around 80 genus but fewer than 2000 species....
, they are a member of the subfamily Proteoideae, which has Southern African and Australian members.

Species

(listed by section: a section has a name in two parts, consisting of the genus name and an epithet).
  • Protea section Leiocephalae
    • Protea caffra
      Protea caffra

      Protea caffra is a small tree or shrub which occurs in open or wooded grassland usually on rocky ridges. Its leaves are leathery and hairless....
       (Common Protea)
    • Protea dracomontana
    • Protea glabra
    • Protea inopina
    • Protea nitida
    • Protea nubigena
    • Protea parvula
    • Protea petiolaris
    • Protea rupicola
    • Protea simplex


  • Protea section Paludosae
    • Protea enervis


  • Protea section Patentiflorae
    • Protea angolensis
      Protea angolensis

      Protea angolensis is a dwarf, multistemmed shrub or small straggling tree occurring in open wooded grassland. The leaves are leathery and hairless and the flowerheads are solitary with the involucral bracts a pale green to bright pink or red colour....
    • Protea comptonii
      Protea comptonii

      Protea comptonii is a species of plant in the Proteaceae family. It is found in South Africa and Swaziland. It is threatened by habitat loss....
    • Protea curvata
      Protea curvata

      Protea curvata is a species of plant in the Proteaceae family. It is Endemism to South Africa....
    • Protea laetans
      Protea laetans

      Protea laetans is a species of plant in the Proteaceae family. It is Endemism to South Africa....
    • Protea madiensis
    • Protea rubropilosa
    • Protea rupestris
Protea Flower
Protea Flower02
  • Protea section Lasiocephalae
    • Protea gaguedi
      Protea gaguedi

      Protea gaguedi is similar to Protea welwitschii and has hairless mature leaves and solitary flower heads.References *van Wyk, B....
    • Protea welwitschii
      Protea welwitschii

      Protea welwitschii is a multistemmed shrub or small gnarled tree occurring in grassland and bushveld. Leaf are bluish green and hairy at the base when mature....


  • Protea section Cristatae
    • Protea asymmetrica
    • Protea wentzeliana


  • Protea section Cynaroidae
    • Protea cynaroides (King Protea)


  • Protea section Paracynaroides
    • Protea cryophila (Snow Protea)
    • Protea pruinosa
    • Protea scabriuscula
    • Protea scolopendriifolia


Protea Cynaroides 5
  • Protea section Ligulatae
    • Protea burchellii
    • Protea compacta
      Protea compacta

      Protea compacta is similar to Protea eximia. Its distribution is from the Kleinmond to Bredasdorp Mountains and is one of the best known proteas in the floriculture....
    • Protea eximia
      Protea eximia

      Protea eximia, the broad-leaved sugarbush is a shrub that may become a small tree, which occurs in mountain fynbos on mainly acidic sandy soils; the species was very well known under its old name of Protea latifolia....
    • Protea longifolia
    • Protea obtusifolia
    • Protea pudens
    • Protea roupelliae
    • Protea susannae


  • Protea section Melliferae
    • Protea aristata
      Protea aristata

      Protea aristata was first collected by the botanists T. P. Stokoe and R. Primos in 1928 near the town of Ladismith in the Cape Province, South Africa....
    • Protea lanceolata
      Protea lanceolata

      Protea lanceolata is a species of plant in the Proteaceae family. It is Endemism to South Africa. It is threatened by habitat loss....
    • Protea repens (Common Sugarbush Protea)


  • Protea section Speciosae
    • Protea coronata
      Protea coronata

      Protea coronata is an erect shrub, 2m - 5m tall, with apple-green flowerhead and lanceolate leaves, turning purple-green around the flowerhead....
    • Protea grandiceps
    • Protea holosericea
    • Protea laurifolia
      Protea laurifolia

      Protea laurifolia is similar to Protea neriifolia but has a more westerly distribution. The leaf are grey to bluish green and short stalked with horny margins....
    • Protea lepidocarpodendron
      Protea lepidocarpodendron

      Status: Near threatened.References...
    • Protea lorifolia
    • Protea magnifica
    • Protea neriifolia
      Protea neriifolia

      Protea neriifolia , also known as oleanderleaf protea, is a flowering plant. which is endemic to South Africa....
       (Oleander-leaf Protea)
    • Protea speciosa
    • Protea stokoei


  • Protea section Exsertae
    • Protea aurea
      Protea aurea

      Protea aurea is a shrub or small tree with a single trunk occurring in mountain fynbos, usually on cool, moist, southern slopes. Flowerheads are solitary and resemble a shuttlecock when open....
    • Protea lacticolor
    • Protea mundii
    • Protea punctata
    • Protea subvestita
    • Protea venusta


  • Protea section Microgeantae
    • Protea acaulos
    • Protea convexa
    • Protea laevis
    • Protea revoluta
    • Protea ungustata


  • Protea section Crinitae
    • Protea foliosa
    • Protea intonsa
    • Protea montana
    • Protea tenax
    • Protea vogtsiae


  • Protea section Pinifolia
    • Protea acuminata
    • Protea canaliculata
    • Protea nana
    • Protea pityphylla
    • Protea scolymocephala
      Protea scolymocephala

      Status: Vulnerable.References...
    • Protea witzenbergiana


  • Protea section Craterifolia
    • Protea effusa
    • Protea namaquana
    • Protea pendula
    • Protea recondita
    • Protea sulphurea


  • Protea section Obvallatae
    • Protea caespitosa


  • Protea section Subacaules
    • Protea aspera
    • Protea denticulata
    • Protea lorea
    • Protea piscina
    • Protea restionifolia
    • Protea scabra
    • Protea scorzonerifolia


National symbol

Together with the Springbok Antelope
Springbok Antelope

The Springbok is a medium sized brown and white gazelle that stands about 75 cm high. Springbuck males weigh between 33-48 kg and the females between to 30-44 kg....
, the Protea had been treated as a sometimes controversial national symbol in South Africa, both during and after apartheid.

The former South African Prime Minister
List of Prime Ministers of South Africa

The Prime Minister of South Africa was the head of government in South Africa between 1910 and 1984.The King of South Africa was the head of state, until 1961, when the non-executive State President of South Africa assumed that role, following South Africa's departure from the Commonwealth of Nations, and the establishment of a republic....
 and architect of apartheid, Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd

Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 until his assassination in 1966. Unlike his predecessors, Verwoerd was not born in South Africa, but immigrated at age two with his parents from the Netherlands....
, had a dream to change the then-current Flag of South Africa
Flag of South Africa

The current flag of the Republic of South Africa was adopted on April 27, 1994, during the South African general election, 1994. A new national flag was adopted to represent the new democracy....
 and have in its center a leaping Springbok Antelope over a wreath
Wreath

A wreath is a circle made of flowers, leaf and sometimes fruits that can be used as an ornament, hanging on a wall or door, or resting on a table....
 of six Proteas. This proposal, however, aroused too much controversy and was never implemented.

After the demise of apartheid, the ANC
African National Congress

The African National Congress has been South Africa's governing party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in May 1994....
 government decreed that South African sporting teams, hitherto called "Springboks" were to be known as "The Proteas", although an exemption was made for the rugby union team, who remain "Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team

The South Africa national rugby union team , are the current holders of the Rugby World Cup and are currently ranked number 2 in the IRB World Rankings....
".

External links

  • : a project to map the distribution of South African plant species, using Protea as a flagship.