Discover some of the flowers that exist in Africa

Would it be presumptuous to claim that the Cape region of South Africa has the most beautiful flowers in the world? For botanists who study the biome, no. The Cape is an extraordinary ecosystem and one of the richest on the planet in biodiversity. Here, plants are more important than the large mammals that make the continent famous. "Despite its small area, the Cape region is one of the six floral kingdoms on the planet. Relatively speaking, it is the most diverse of all. We find about 9,100 plant species, and 6,226 of them are endemic, found only here," says Richard Cowling, a botanist who lives in Scarborough, halfway between Cape Town and the tip of the Cape of Good Hope Peninsula.

Local botanists from the Simon's Town Flora Conservation Group have identified that the Cape Peninsula is home to 2,285 plant species in just 477 km2. Compared to other areas of the same size, the peninsula boasts the highest concentration of floral diversity in the world. The proportion of species per million square meters is even higher in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. In just 78 km2, the protected area is home to nearly 1,200 plants. Scholars are proud to say that this tiny tip of Africa is 2,500 species richer than the United Kingdom. The high plant diversity in the Cape Floral Province is explained by the climate—the convergence of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, with their cold and warm waters—and the varied topography, composed of plateaus, mountains, valleys, and coastal basins. This heterogeneity of environments and microclimates has allowed the evolution of thousands of species. The Cape boasts five families and 160 genera of plants unique to the region and contains 70 of the 115 proteas. With so many arguments in its favor, the small territory is considered a priority for biodiversity conservation. Conservation International classifies it as one of the planet's 37 hotspots.

The next morning also has its educational side: I visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. At the foot of Table Mountain, the site is home to 5,000 examples of South African flora. No invasive species, like eucalyptus trees, hated in the region; only local plants. I follow Cowling's suggestion and head straight to the protea garden. What should have been a cursory visit turns into a deep dive into the world of this family's flowers. Contrasting with the thick, dark green leaves, each species blossoms into a unique jewel. The brightly colored stamens—red, orange, or yellow—open as if to reveal the magic of nature.

I look for the King Protea, the most exuberant of all. Its flower, with pink petals, can reach 30 cm in diameter and stay open for weeks. The King Protea is the king of the Proteaceae family, which comprises 115 subjects (61% are South African) and is revered as the national flower. The plant resembles a red artichoke, an appearance that suggested the name for the species – cyranoides – meaning "like an artichoke." The name protea also inspired cricket players, a popular sport in the country, and the South African national team bears the nickname.