Leucadendron gandogeri female flowerhead

The female flowerhead of Leucadendron gandogeri resides in a wide, shallow cup. It is formed by conspicuously greenish yellow, yellow or orange-tinged involucral leaves that curve up to their red, thickened tips. In picture these leaves are also pinkish red at the base around the young cone.

A multitude of female florets grow in the gaps between the cone blades. These blades close after flowering, the fruits remaining on the bush until fire opens them for dispersal, one of the serotinous conebushes.

Flowering happens late in winter and early in spring. The photo was taken in July (Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; iNaturalist).