Protea mundii old and young

The open Protea mundii flowerhead has its straight cream styles ending in pollen presenters or stigmas, depending on the timing, all in a wide ring close to the involucre. The centre is open with some signs of curled up segments of discarded perianth parts lying in the base.

The styles are about 6 cm long, standing not much taller than the inner ring of black-tipped involucral bracts but for some bract damage that could have been inflicted by sugarbirds or sunbirds.

The bud in the background has black tips only on the lowest bracts, the black ring at the top being ants visiting (Venter, 2012; Manning, 2007; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Rebelo, 1995; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).