protea
noun /ˈprəʊtiə/
/ˈprəʊtiə/
- a type of bush found in South Africa with large flowers with thick orange or pink outer leaves
- the flower itself, which is one of South Africa’s national symbols
Word Originmodern Latin, from Proteus, a minor sea god in Greek mythology who had the ability to assume different shapes; with reference to the many species of the genus.