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 wealth, these sightings remain among the memorable.

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 king protea and maybe also from the restios that share in making up the much lauded heathland vegetation.

The meaning conveyed is of diverse bush vegetation that is fine or special. Without the proteas, especially some of the larger, broad-leaved shrubs like P. cynaroides, Cape fynbos would not be fynbos (Manning, 2007; Rebelo, 1995; Eliovson, 1983; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).