protea
1
9.8
- noun
- /proʊˈtiːə/
- South African
- In South Africa, the protea is celebrated as a national symbol due to its stunning blooms.
Examples
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The garden was filled with colorful protea flowers, each with a unique cone-shaped head.
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PHOTO (COLOR): Fungal spots on a protea leaf from South Africa.
Academic text (2004) -
Photo (color): An arrangement of protea flowers, two each of, from left, Pink Mink, Duchess, and Pin Cushion.
Academic text (2004) -
The book, which will include the protea fungi that exist in the United States, Africa, and Australia, should help facilitate the flow of usable and innocuous plant materials among these countries.
Academic text (2004) -
She arranged a stunning bouquet featuring a large protea among other tropical flowers.
Synonyms
1
9.8
A South African bush or small tree with large, bright, unusual flowers
Compounds
- Australian
1
9.5
A group of shrubs and trees from South Africa and Australia with leathery leaves and clustered showy flowers
- Australian
A shrub with flowers that make a lot of nectar for bees to make honey
Surface Forms
Etymology
Protea comes from the Greek sea-god Proteus, who could 'change shape', so the plant was named for its many different forms and bright, cone-shaped flowers.