Leucospermum conocarpodendron, the Botany Beatles

Flowerhead growth of Leucospermum conocarpodendron has here reached the stage of perianths on parade, neatly aligned in close ranks that would have pleased Signor Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa, the man of Fibonacci series fame. This is where the thin, orange-pink bracts lose “parental” control, the teenager buds tall and confident, acknowledging other teenagers, ignoring parents but adhering to funny curve rows.

Pubescence is there as it should be, whitish in this case. It's all about the hair! The real Beatles' hair was black, at least early on. Typical of the youthful phase, the profusion of hairs covers all the buds of the capitulum community in conformist style.

Maturity and fruition are yet to come. The surrounding leaves still largely separate the hairy buds from the outside world, protecting their interests by keeping their distance. The perianths are not as pretty as they will later be. Adolescents all over the world are so often in a blind hurry when not sleeping.