Protea obtusifolia bud

The closed Protea obtusifolia bud has shiny bract surfaces, the hairiness confined to the margins. Colour is the exclusive affair of the upper (inner) rows of longer bracts; the lower ones not resisting early drying of their margins. It is the uppermost ones that take responsibility for maintaining an inviting presentation.

They aim to deliver pollinators onto the perianths and pollen presenters, soon to be revealed inside the ring of open bracts.

Flowering happens from mid-autumn to early spring (Manning, 2007; Rebelo, 1995; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).