Succulent Sunday: Protea Cynaroides

While we were on a ridiculously long hike in Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town, the other half and I ran into these amazing specimens of King Protea a.k.a. Protea Cynaroides, the National Flower of South Africa. When fully open the flowers are between 6-8 inches in circumference. Truly astounding to behold.

South Africa has thousands of species of flora and fauna which are found nowhere else in the world. In fact, Table Mountain National Park has more biodiversity than the entire continent of North America!