The family Proteaceae is named for after one of its primary genera, Protea. Linnaeus named the genus Protea after the Greek god Proteus, who, according to legend, was able to transform his shape and appearance into numerous animate and inanimate forms at will and it was from this name that the family name Proteaceae was assigned by the French botanist Jussieu. It is apparent that the family originated on the southern super continent of Gondwana before it divided into the southern continents as the 1400 species of over 60 genera are found entirely in the southern hemisphere with the greatest concentration being in Australia, with over 800 species in 45 genera and the western Cape of South Africa with 330 species in 14 genera. The plants are mostly shrubs but there are some trees and clambering vines or groundcovers; there are no herbaceous or annual plants in the family. There is a direct correlation of the distribution of plants in the Proteaceae with the occurrence of nutrient deficient soils. In California we have found that we can grow many of the plants in this family very successfully in our gardens. Our Protea Information Page contains more information on the cultivation of this group of plants and some tricks that will help gardeners successfully use these attractive plants in our California Gardens.