Protea susannae open flowerhead nestling among leaves

The flowerhead of Protea susannae is cup-shaped to cone-shaped. It becomes up to 10 cm long and 11 cm wide. This species does not have bearded margins on the bracts, but their outer surfaces are covered with a sticky brown varnish-like coating. The bracts of the inner row, the longest ones, are narrowing lower down, tapering at the tips in a spoon-shape.

In this photo the involucral bracts are spread widely. These bracts are pinkish brown with hairs at the base. More than half the perianths are open already; just a small cone-topped section of yet unopened individual flowers with dark tips remain in the centre. The perianths of this species have inflated tubes and vary from 6,5 to 8 cm in length (Manning, 2009; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Rebelo, 1995; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).