The
Proteaceae are a
family of
flowering plants predominantly distributed in the
Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80
genera with about 1,600
species. Together with the
Platanaceae and
Nelumbonaceae, they make up the order
Proteales. Well-known genera include
Protea,
Banksia,
Embothrium,
Grevillea,
Hakea,
Dryandra, and
Macadamia. Species such as the New South Wales waratah (
Telopea speciosissima), king protea (
Protea cynaroides), and various species of
Banksia,
Grevillea, and
Leucadendron are popular cut flowers, while the nuts of
Macadamia integrifolia are widely grown commercially and consumed.
Australia and
South Africa have the greatest concentrations of diversity.
