Protea aurea subsp. aurea styles like needles

The flowerhead of Protea aurea subsp. aurea starts off as a long cylindrical bud, broad at the base and pointed at the top, like a rocket. It opens to display the inner floral parts, initially neatly pressed against the creamy white to light greenish, pink or crimson flower (involucral) bracts. A cone-shaped opening is thus created in the centre, resembling a shuttlecock from which the styles protrude in a neat array. Towards the end of flowering the head morphs into random untidiness of spent perianths below the straight, spreading styles.

Flowering occurs all year round, more in the first half of the calendar year. Pollination is done by nectar consuming birds. Seed dispersal by the wind happens after long storage in the seed-head on the plant.

Unlike the leucadendrons the proteas have both sexes on the same plant and also in the same flowerhead.

This photo was taken near Greyton at the western end of the plants distribution (Manning, 2007; Rebelo, 1995; Rourke, 1980; http://protea.worldonline.co.za).