Proteoideae
Encyclopedia
Proteoideae is one of five subfamilies of the flowering plant
family
Proteaceae
. The greatest diversity of Proteoideae is in Africa, but there are also many species in Australia
; a few species occur in South America
, New Caledonia
, and elsewhere.
in his 1810 On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae
. Brown divided Proteaceae into two "sections" based on whether or not the fruits were dehiscent
or indehiscence. He also noted that Brown's two "sections" corresponded closely with what are now recognised as the two largest Proteaceae subfamilies, Proteoideae and Grevilleoideae, and both the indehiscence of Proteoideae and the paired flowers of Grevilleoideae are still recognised as key diagnostic characters.
Brown did not publish names for his two sections, and it would not be until 1836 that the name Proteoideae would be published by Amos Eaton
. The modern framework for classification of the genera within Proteaceae was laid by L. A. S. Johnson
and Barbara Briggs
in their influential 1975 monograph "On the Proteaceae: the evolution and classification of a southern family
". Their classification has been refined somewhat over the ensuing three decades, mot notably by Peter Weston
and Nigel Barker
in 2006, who included in Proteoideae the monophyletic Eidotheoideae, but separated from it two genera as the new Symphionematoideae. Proteaceae is now divided into five subfamilies, of which Proteoideae is the second largest. It is defined as those species having cluster roots, solitary ovule
s and indehiscent fruits. Proteoideae is further divided into four tribes: Conospermeae, Petrophileae, Proteae and Leucadendreae:
, Australia
and South America
. Africa is the main centre of biodiversity. Australia has similar number of genera but fewer species. The subfamily is poorly represented in South America.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
Proteaceae
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
. The greatest diversity of Proteoideae is in Africa, but there are also many species in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
; a few species occur in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, and elsewhere.
Taxonomy
Proteoideae was essentially defined by Robert BrownRobert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
in his 1810 On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae
On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae
On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae, also published as "On the Proteaceae of Jussieu", was a paper written by Robert Brown on the taxonomy of the plant family Proteaceae. It was read to the Linnean Society of London in the first quarter of 1809, and published in March 1810...
. Brown divided Proteaceae into two "sections" based on whether or not the fruits were dehiscent
Dehiscence (botany)
Dehiscence is the opening, at maturity, in a pre-defined way, of a plant structure, such as a fruit, anther, or sporangium, to release its contents. Sometimes this involves the complete detachment of a part. Structures that open in this way are said to be dehiscent...
or indehiscence. He also noted that Brown's two "sections" corresponded closely with what are now recognised as the two largest Proteaceae subfamilies, Proteoideae and Grevilleoideae, and both the indehiscence of Proteoideae and the paired flowers of Grevilleoideae are still recognised as key diagnostic characters.
Brown did not publish names for his two sections, and it would not be until 1836 that the name Proteoideae would be published by Amos Eaton
Amos Eaton
Amos Eaton was a scientist and educator in the Troy, New York area.Eaton attended Williams College; after graduating in 1799 he studied law in New York City and was admitted to the state bar in 1802. He practiced law in Catskill, New York until 1810, when he was jailed on charges of forgery...
. The modern framework for classification of the genera within Proteaceae was laid by L. A. S. Johnson
Lawrence Alexander Sidney Johnson
Lawrence Alexander Sidney Johnson, known as Lawrie Johnson, was an Australian taxonomic botanist. He worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, for the whole of his professional career, as a botanist , Director and Honorary Research Associate .Alone or in collaboration with colleagues, he...
and Barbara Briggs
Barbara G. Briggs
Barbara Gillian Briggs is one of the foremost Australian botanists. The IK lists 205 names of plants which have been published or co-published by her. She was one of the botanists in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, of the APG system....
in their influential 1975 monograph "On the Proteaceae: the evolution and classification of a southern family
On the Proteaceae: the evolution and classification of a southern family
On the Proteaceae: the evolution and classification of a southern family is a highly influential monograph on the evolution, biogeography and taxonomy of the flowering plant family Proteaceae. Authored by L. A. S...
". Their classification has been refined somewhat over the ensuing three decades, mot notably by Peter Weston
Peter Weston
Peter Weston is a British science fiction fan. Now retired, he lives in Birmingham, UK.Weston's made many contributions in fan writing, fanzine editing, convention-running and in local science fiction clubs. His 1960s pseudonym "Malcolm Edwards" caused some confusion several years later, when a...
and Nigel Barker
Nigel Barker
Nigel Barker is an English author, spokesperson, filmmaker, fashion photographer and former model. He is best known for his participation as a judge and photographer on the reality show America's Next Top Model.-Early life:...
in 2006, who included in Proteoideae the monophyletic Eidotheoideae, but separated from it two genera as the new Symphionematoideae. Proteaceae is now divided into five subfamilies, of which Proteoideae is the second largest. It is defined as those species having cluster roots, solitary ovule
Ovule
Ovule means "small egg". In seed plants, the ovule is the structure that gives rise to and contains the female reproductive cells. It consists of three parts: The integument forming its outer layer, the nucellus , and the megaspore-derived female gametophyte in its center...
s and indehiscent fruits. Proteoideae is further divided into four tribes: Conospermeae, Petrophileae, Proteae and Leucadendreae:
- Family ProteaceaeProteaceaeProteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
- Subfamily Bellendenoideae (1 genus)
- Subfamily PersoonioideaePersoonioideaeThe Persoonioideae are a subfamily of closely releted genera within the large and diverse Proteaceae family and incorporates such genera as Persoonia, Acidonia, Toronia and Placospermum....
(2 tribes, 5 genera) - Subfamily Symphionematoideae (2 genera)
- Subfamily Proteoideae
- incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
-
- EidotheaEidotheaEidothea is a genus of two species of rainforest tree in New South Wales and Queensland in eastern Australia, which belongs to the plant family Proteaceae, which also includes more familiar members such as the waratahs, grevilleas, banksias, macadamias and proteas...
— BeaupreaBeaupreaBeauprea is a genus of plant in family Proteaceae. It contains the following species :* Beauprea congesta, Virot* Beauprea crassifolia, Virot...
— Beaupreopsis — Dilobeia — Cenarrhenes — FranklandiaFranklandiaFranklandia is a genus of small shrubs in family Proteaceae, referred to as the Lanoline Bushes. It is endemic to Southwest Australia.Franklandia are heathland shrubs found on white or grey sands. They possess a lignotuber, allowing them to recover from bushfire. Several erect branches emerge from...
- Eidothea
-
- Tribe Conospermeae
- Subtribe Stirlingiinae
- StirlingiaStirlingiaStirlingia, commonly known as Blueboy, is a genus of 7 species in the family Proteaceae, all of which are endemic to Western Australia.-Description:...
- Stirlingia
- Subtribe Conosperminae
- ConospermumConospermumConospermum is a genus of 53 species in the family Proteaceae endemic to Australia. They are fairly widespread over the continent. They aren't particularly well-known to horticulture but some of the New South Wales species are known as smoke bushes....
— SynapheaSynapheaSynaphea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae. The genus is endemic to Western Australia.The name was first published in 1810, devised by Robert Brown from the Greek for union or connection, describing an anomaly in the structure of the flower.Species include:*Synaphea acutiloba...
- Conospermum
- Subtribe Stirlingiinae
- Tribe Petrophileae
-
- PetrophilePetrophilePetrophile is a genus of evergreen shrubs, in the protea family Proteaceae, which are endemic to Australia. Commonly known as Conebushes, they typically have prickly, divided foliage and produce prominently-displayed pink, yellow or cream flowers followed by grey, conical fruits...
— AulaxAulaxAulax This South African protea family genus of just 3 species of evergreen shrubs is unusual among the many South African Proteaceae in having male and female flowers on separate plants. The bushes have fine needle-like foliage. In spring and summer female plants produce funnel-shaped...
- Petrophile
-
- Tribe Proteeae
- Tribe Leucadendreae
- Subtribe Isopogoninae
- IsopogonIsopogonIsopogon is a genus of 35 species of mainly low-growing and prostrate perennial shrubs in the family Proteaceae endemic to Australia. They are found throughout Australia, though Western Australia has the greatest variety with 27 of the 35 species found there...
- Isopogon
- Subtribe Adenanthinae
- AdenanthosAdenanthosAdenanthos is an genus of Australian native shrubs in the flowering plant family Proteaceae. Variable in habit and leaf shape, it is the only Proteaceae genus in which solitary flowers is the norm. It was discovered in 1791, and formally published by Jacques Labillardière in 1805. There are now 33...
- Adenanthos
- Subtribe Leucadendrinae
- LeucadendronLeucadendronLeucadendron is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, endemic to South Africa, where they are a prominent part of the fynbos ecoregion and vegetation type.-Description:...
— SerruriaSerruriaSerruria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, endemic to South Africa.Species include:...
— Paranomus — Vexatorella — Sorocephalus — Spatalla — LeucospermumLeucospermumLeucospermum is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, native to Zimbabwe and South Africa, where they occupy a variety of habitats, including scrub, forest, and mountain slopes.They are evergreen shrubs growing to 0.5-5 m tall...
— MimetesMimetesMimetes is a genus of plants in the large family Proteaceae. This genus, as with other proteas, is popular with nectivorous birds such as the Cape Sugarbird and several sunbird species.It contains the following species :...
— Diastella — OrothamnusOrothamnusOrothamnus or 'Marsh Rose' is a monotypic fynbos genus in the family Proteaceae occurring in the Kogelberg and Kleinrivier Mountains of Hottentots-Holland in the Western Cape Province of South Africa...
- Leucadendron
- Subtribe Isopogoninae
- incertae sedis
- Subfamily GrevilleoideaeGrevilleoideaeGrevilleoideae is a subfamily of the Proteaceae family of flowering plants. Mainly restricted to the southern hemisphere, it contains around 44 genera and about 950 species. Genera include Banksia, Grevillea and Macadamia.-Description:...
(4 tribes, 10 subtribes, 31 genera)
Distribution and habitat
Like the family as a whole, Proteoideae has a southern hemisphere distribution, spanning AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Africa is the main centre of biodiversity. Australia has similar number of genera but fewer species. The subfamily is poorly represented in South America.