The rules for posting are simple!

1. Every Friday post a photo that includes one or more flowers.
2. Please only post photos you have authority to use.
3. Include a link to this blog in your post - http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com/
4. Leave the link to your FloralFridayFoto post below on inlinkz.
5. Visit other blogs listed ... comment & enjoy!

When to Post:
inlinkz will be available every Thursday and will remain open until the next Wednesday.

Thursday 12 December 2013

FFF 108 - KING PROTEA

The king protea (Protea cynaroides) 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 The Protea Atlas Project, run by the South African National Botanical Institute.

The king protea has several colour forms and horticulturists have recognised 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.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!

16 comments:

  1. Gorgeous bloom! Never seen one like it before!

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  2. I am always fascinated by the various stages of growth of this flower in my garden. Even when the colour has gone and there are just brown tones it looks wonderful. A great photo.

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  3. What a fabulous looking flower - great colours and patterns in the petals!
    Alison

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  4. This is the showiest of showy flowers. Forgive me for posting a photo of an artificial one. Not too much blooming outdoors right now, and hubby is allergic to real poinsettias.

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  5. Magnificent! Happy Friday! And thank you for hosting ☆

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  6. Just love Proteas

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  7. This is my first successful comment on a Blgspot site

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. I have seen this flower before but have not known its name or how hardy it is. Imagine, surviving a fire and resurrecting itself... Thank you for such a great picture of such an interesting flowering plant (I love its leaves too). Meghan from Firebonnet.com (#26 above). Thanks also for hosting this!

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  10. Hello,
    that's an amazing flower, love it.
    I took a picture of this wonderful cactus, you can see it here: http://www.reflexionblog.de/wer-redet-hier-von-stacheln/
    Wish you a nice Saturday,
    moni

    Thanks if you visit my blog
    http://www.reflexionblog.de

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  11. Splendid detailed macro nicely framed and displayed !!!

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