Protea repens suikerbos losing its suiker

At this stage the Protea repens flowerhead is usually ignored by all who paid attention when its pretty flowering peaked. The ravages of floral disintegration arrive inevitably for all plants that flower, without rendering an old head like this less interesting and informative about its role in species survival.

The dark, shapeless cover of collapsed perianth segments in the base, accompanied by the still protruding, erect styles tipped with pollen presenters turned stigmas, now jointly serve as a safe haven for hidden fruit and seed development. The decaying perianths held in position by the involucral cup that will also close at the top, keep herbivores at bay.

The bracts will last as an effective shield for much longer than in their pretty stage of attracting birds and bees. It is turning into a dedicated, functional vessel for concealing a key process in the plant’s life. The end stage closed, upside down cone works very well and for long (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Rebelo, 1995; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).