PROTEA PASSION...FROM BUD TO FULL BLOOM.

PROTEA PASSION.....FROM BUD TO FULL BLOOM.

This is my entry for @jamtaylor's SteemitPhotoChallenge Theme: Nature Macro.

The beautiful and flamboyant protea plants are prevalent in Australia, South America and South Africa. Australia contains the greatest diversity of Proteaceae where they thrive effortlessly in our rainforests, coastal and sandy areas, alpine regions and even in our deserts.

They have the ability to grow in low-nutrient soils due to their root system which form together as fine but dense mats on the soil surface. It is these ‘proteoid’ roots that extract generally, inaccessible nutrients from the soil.

Proteas have a backup system when situated in very arid conditions. The proteoid roots disappear and the plants then rely on sinker roots which can grow up to 20 metres in length allowing them to draw from groundwater supplies. The structure of the leathery type leaves protects them against precious moisture loss.

So hardy are the Australian protea plants, they can survive even the hottest of fires and can re-sprout within weeks of being burnt. Amazingly, their seeds and fruit are fireproof as well and after burning, the woody fruits open slowly and drop seeds onto a cooled seed bed and wait for rain to do its magic with germination.

The exuberant beauty of these red and white protea flowers beckoned me to them in unabashed fashion and I did not hesitate to give them all the attention they deserved. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Source: abc.net.au

(All photos captured with a Point and Shoot Camera.)