protea

 
Pronunciation: /ˈprəʊtɪə/

noun

  • an evergreen shrub or small tree with large nectar-rich cone-like flower heads surrounded by brightly coloured bracts, chiefly native to South Africa.
    • Genus Protea, family Proteaceae: many species, including P. repens, which was formerly used as a source of sweet syrup

Origin:

modern Latin, from Proteus, with reference to the many species of the genus