Leucospermum reflexum var. reflexum flowerhead early

When the Leucospermum reflexum var. reflexum perianths lengthen, the bracts that consorted with them and preceded them are left behind in size. The purple-red, narrowly pointed, white-fringed bract tips are all around the bases of the now longer, gracefully in-curved perianth bodies yet to open.

There is more colouring, orange with some yellow and less green on the long perianth limbs, all subdued by the soft hairs. Very different on the bulging, pointed perianth tips, where the hairs are whiter and flattened.

More bracts can be detected below on the nearly naked stalk of the flowerhead in picture, positioned like would-be leaves (Manning, 2009; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; http://pza.sanbi.org).