Leucospermum calligerum flowerhead and stem-tips

The Leucospermum calligerum stem-tip flowerhead is flattened rather than globose, the free styles slightly incurving over the whitish mass of collapsed perianth segments in the base.

The common name of pincushion is shared among several Leucospermum species. It refers to the multiple knob-tipped styles standing erect from the flowerheads. The dense collapsed mass below them in the flowerhead consists of perianths and stamens that have split open to release the styles.

The Afrikaans name of luisiesbos (little lice bush) is said to refer to the resemblance of the nutlet seeds to lice (Manning, 2009; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984).