Protea eximia bud

This Protea eximia bud has nearly reached the length at which it will open. The typical darkening of the bract tips is visible as well as some pink suffused in the cream colouring in the upper rows of bracts. There are five or six rows of involucral bracts in a head. Slight curving away from the bud is seen in the dried out bract tips. Fortunately the inner row of bracts usually lacks this blackening, allowing the open flowerhead the chance of being beautiful.

The whitish hairs on the dead margins of the bracts can still be seen, although this species is not counted among the bearded proteas.

The leaves are darker green than on some specimens shown in this Album, while the red blade rims are in evidence yet again. Even hard leaves such as these serve as food for some insects (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Rebelo, 1995; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).