Proteaceae - Protea family

Trees, shrubs or suffrutices. Stipules 0. Leaves alternate (in ours), simple, entire to toothed or pinnatifid (Grevillea). Inflorescence a raceme, spike or head. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic. Perianth 4-merous, the segments differentiated into a swollen base, narrow claw and expanded terminal limb, with the tube splitting before the limb to release a loop of the style. Stamens 4. Ovary superior, 1-locular. Fruit a follicle, capsule, drupe or nut.

Worldwide: 77 genera and 1600 species, in tropical and subtropical areas, especially the southern hemisphere and in particular South Africa and Australia.

Malawi: 2 genera and 20 taxa.