Leucadendron argenteum male tree

This male Leucadendron argenteum tree is flourishing in Kirstenbosch. The male silver tree is more silvery and thereby more ostentatious than the female, similar to gender differences in many bird species. It is the involucral bracts but also particularly the involucral leaves around them at the stem-tips that achieve the extra shine from spreading wider.

The silver-grey sheen of the leaves changes with weather and light, seasonally augmented by dryness and summer heat when the hairs lie flat on the blades. Involucral leaves open wider than other leaves, the angles of their presentation different to those of lower stem-leaves, resulting in increased shine.

The photo was taken in November (Coates Palgrave, 2002; http://pza.sanbi.org).