Protea family
Description
A family of shrubs and trees occurring in the southern hemisphere, especially in South Africa and Australia (Proteaceae 1).
The leaves are entire or divided, alternate, opposite or in whorls, and leathery. The flowers are borne in dense showy inflorescences with a whorl of bracts at the base. They are zygomorphic, bisexual or unisexual and dioecious, with 4 usually recurved sepal-like perianth members, 4 stamens and a superior ovary with a long and usually curved style. The fruit is a nut or a drupe.
There are about 70 genera.
Use
The genus Macadamia yields edible nuts.
Described species
Macadamia ternifolia, macadamia or Queensland nut