Proteas are far more interesting than I ever could have suspected, and may possibly be the most interesting silk flower stem of the day up to this point. That’s a pretty bold statement considering tulips caused an economic disaster, and roses are the reason Shinoda Design Center exists.
The most interesting flower in the world: I don't always grow flowers, but when I do, I make them proteas
Proteas are ancient. I know I thought magnolias were old, but proteas make magnolias look like the new kid on the block. Ancestors of the protea are 300 million years old. Wikipedia told me that proteas were native to Gondwanaland. I thought that wikipedia had made up a word, but Gondwanaland was actually a real place. When all of the 7 continents were grouped together forming Pangea, the southernmost ‘supercontinent’ was Gondwanaland. If you’re wondering, the other supercontinent was called Laurasia, although I don’t think anyone at the time called it Laurasia since it was mostly non-speaking amphibians and invertebrates.
So they’re really old. They’re also a controversial national symbol of South Africa. During the Apartheid era, most of the sports teams were represented by a Springbok, which is an antelope. Even though the Springbok mascot came about before Apartheid, it had developed a close association with Apartheid, and it was unpopular with anti-Apartheid groups. The protea, native to Southern Africa, was proposed as an alternative that would appeal to all South Africans. The protea is now the symbol of all South African sports teams, except the rugby team, which has received a special exemption.
Over 300 million years old and still causing problems today. Not bad for one flower.
-Chris
Thanks to Wikipedia for all the information about the symbolism of Apartheid and Gondwanaland. Without you, Wikipedia, I wouldn’t know the adjective Gondwanan. Wikipedia can be found on the internet at www.wikipedia.org