The Proteaceae or protea family is a fairly large and variable family mainly restricted to the southern hemisphere. Most family family members seem to prefer acidic,  well-drained  and nutrient-depleted soils. The family contains about 80 genera and perhaps as many as 2000 species, and is in the order Proteales with the superficially dissimilar family Platanaceae. These are mostly evergreen trees and shrubs and the typical inflorescense is showy and composed of many small densely-packed flowers. South Africa and Australia are the two main centers of diversity, with Protea, Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea, Leucadendron, Leucospermum and Macadamia being the major genera. Many family members have specialized roots growing at ground level which maximizes water and nutrient absorption. Except for the macadamia nut, the Proteaceae family does not produce much of commercial significance.