Aspalathus globulosa buds

The compact, spherical Aspalathus globulosa buds start off like stem-tip marbles. The flowerhead bracts visible on their surfaces overlap regularly and tightly over all the other floral material. The bract tips are acutely pointed, pointing up to the top of each bud where the whitish beginnings of anthesis, flower opening are visible first.

Some leaves close to the inflorescence may also deviate from the normal narrow leaf shape, ovate as bracts instead of thread-like as leaves (Privett and Lutzeyer, 2010; Bean and Johns, 2005; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).