Protea glabra on the rocks

No visible soil surrounds this Protea glabra plant. The old woody base is firmly stuck upon the solid rock that spreads around it. The size of the plant and its dead wood remains of earlier growth tell a story of resilience and growth achievements attained over several years.

No flowers in the latest season (as the more fortunate neighbours around it have managed), it hangs in for another attempt next year, should the winter inundation leave something more in the hidden crevices where the roots source its livelihood. The cone-shaped black and grey flowerhead receptacles on some branch tips (that havent added new growth since their blooming one or more years ago), bear evidence of past successes achieved over several years. 

The stand of P. glabra plants at Kagga Kamma grows upon an extensive plateau of sandstone rock slabs and sheets, forcing the protea and other plants to make most of small gaps and fissures where they sometimes find but meagre soil (Rourke, 1980; Manning, 2007; Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist).