Leucospermum conocarpodendron, perianths appearing

On this developing flowerhead of Leucospermum conocarpodendron the lemon yellow tips of the perianths or individual flowers are just appearing among much white woolliness.

Each flower is subtended by an also towering, orange-pink bract. This hairy bract is broad below where it protectively envelops its charge, the emerging flower. Higher up it is thin, worm-like and erect, attenuating to a curving tip.

A small, grey bud is visible below on the left. It may be an abandoned project or one that will still be undertaken, once resources become available upon completion of current commitments. On a big plant, like in a big city, allocation decisions are logistic solutions that may sequence or discard tasks subordinate to the greater good. This ensures steady overall progress without half-heartedness or indecision.

Plants do these things without computers, committees or executive benefits.