The Proteaceae family was named after the mythical god Proteus, son of Poseidon, because the flowers have so many forms. Proteus could foretell the future, but changed his shape so he didn't have to. Doesn't the king protea above look like a snow cone? And this banksia, a corn cob? The petals feel like coated plastic wire, the kind used in telephone cables. Proteas (plants in the genera Protea, Banksia and Leucospermum) are from Australia and South Africa. Although grown commercially in my…
