The comparative richness of proteaceous plants in Western Australia and South Africa first suggested a common source for these primitive types.
Proteaceous plants, although not exclusively Australian, are exceedingly characteristic of Australian scenery, and are counted amongst the oldest flowering plants of the world.
The Proteaceous genus, Faurea, occurs in Angola and Madagascar.
Little confidence can, however, be placed in the identification of Proteaceous or, indeed, of any distinctively Australian plants in Tertiary deposits in the northern hemisphere.
The Proteaceous genus Helicia reaches as far north as China, but whether it is starting or returning must as inothercases be left an open question.