Protea cynaroides, the national floral emblem

Seeing Protea cynaroides, the national floral emblem of South Africa in habitat, is for many citizens comparable to spotting a springbok in the Karoo, or a blue crane on a grassy plain. In a country known for its floristic heritage, these sightings stir feelings for the land.

Gazing upon the broad leaves, the foreign visitor might well ask: Why is such vegetation called fynbos? Fine bush? Maybe in the sense of being pretty, but fine or delicate?

The fynbos name gains credence from the ericoid, small-leaved plants found in abundance around the bigger leaf proteas, like the king protea, and also by the restios that complete the picture and define the concept. The meaning conveyed is a particular diverse bush vegetation that is fine in the sense of special. Without one of the three elements the fynbos is not fynbos (Manning, 2007; Rebelo, 1995; Eliovson, 1983; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).