Protea repens cone shapes

The lower involucral bracts around the base of Protea repens buds and flowerhead in picture are fringed dark and hard, accentuating shape and overlap. They continue in gradual elongation up the green cone that curves in slightly to its tip; no rims on the upper bracts.

The styles with pollen presenter tips are as long as the inner involucral bracts of the inverted cone of the open flowerhead. The "reclosed" old flowerhead in the background is dark, coloured grey, brown and black. The long wait for the seeds residing safely inside the cone continues until the next fire for release and dispersal. This may take many years.

The particularly narrow leaves on this plant taper gradually to their bases. The leaf midribs are prominent, cream coloured, while some upper stem parts have a tinge of orange.

The flowerheads of P. repens are often not exposed ideally for viewing as the side-shoots that overtop them in their prime tend to grow strongly (Manning, 2007; Rebelo, 1995; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).