Leucadendron linifolium female cone

The female Leucadendron linifolium fruit or cone is rounded and flattened vertically, positioned above the stem-tip leaves with a collar of broad involucral bracts around its base. Small florets emerge above the involucral bracts all over the cone. The dry remainders of a few of these are still visible in the photo.

Dusky nutlets with mottled surfaces follow flowering in the enlarged female cone, retained there for years, even until the plant dies.

Numerous, small male cones (growing on separate bushes) are borne on leafless stalks at stem-tips. An abundance of short, yellow stamens sometimes forms a tonsure-like ring around the top of the cone, until the last stamens open. They become greyish afterwards.

Both male and female flowerheads exude a yeasty odour, the female ones less so.

Flowering happens in the first part of spring (Bean and Johns, 2005; Mustart, et al, 1997; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).