Leucospermum catherinae flowerhead half open

The nearly open Leucospermum catherinae flowerhead has shiny yellow styles curving ostentatiously, particularly on the side of the head that is further developed. The white-haired, cone-shaped perianth tips are for the moment the focus of the flowering and fruiting sequence of the species:

The pollen presenters are still trapped inside the perianth tips for the moment. The smearing of pollen from the anthers in the ends of the perianth segments onto the captive pollen presenters is a vital part of the process ending eventually in ripe seed. Its success involves timing of pollen ripeness as well as precision of transfer (Manning, 2007; Eliovson, 1983; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).