Protea nitida bud in an early oblong stage

This bud of a Protea nitida flowerhead was found on a mountain slope near Worcester. It shows the short-lived oblong stage of the flowerhead. The perianths are just beginning to project above the involucral bracts at the top. The involucre appears olive green in this light. 

The imbricate structure of the bracts overlapping like roof tiles or fish scales on the outside of the cylinder is neat and regular. The red margins that sometimes colour these involucral bracts are lacking in this specimen. The outer bracts around the involucral receptacle at the base are small and whitish (Rourke, 1980).