Protea punctata flowerhead still young

The rounded, upside-down cone of silky Protea punctata perianths show their lilac and white tips. These bud tips still cohere in the centre of the flowerhead, usually about 2,5 cm in diameter. Earlier, the younger flowerhead was narrowly cylindrical.

Most pollen presenters, the top bits of the styles, are here still covered by the perianths, therefore counted as in the bud stage. They contrast against the older, peripheral open flowers around the perimeter of the head, where pollinators already feast among the collapsed perianth remains. All of this is happening above the sagged ring of involucral bracts opened wide.

The curved, semi-released styles may be assisted by visitor movement, triggering the escape from the captivity of their perianth tips faster. Be that as it may, the straightening of styles, holding their pollen presenters high like torches for maximum physical contact with any passing traffic, constitutes a dramatic moment in the life of each flowerhead! All in accordance with the big plan sustaining a wondrously focussed little floral world, enjoyed by animals big and small (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Manning, 2007; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).