Protea neriifolia close to Caledon

The outer involucral bracts of Protea neriifolia low down on the head are short and functional, serving in a protective rather than decorative capacity. They are greenish yellow in picture, their hard to horny margins evenly brown-banded, gradually appearing papery. The white parts of the upper bracts are pale pink or deep rosy red on many plants of the species, always covered in silky hairs below their black tips.

Terminal tufts of black hairs or beard appear on those bracts higher up. The longest bracts are here narrowly oblong. These inner bract rows are different: softer and flowery, particularly the innermost row. The involucre of several rows of bracts serves as a covering, the innermost row taller than the florets an alluring ring of florally coloured, fluffy-tipped marketing heralds of nectar sources (Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; Rebelo, 1995; iNaturalist).