Aulax umbellata yellow male buds

This large cluster of male Aulax umbellata stem-tip racemes were seen on a small plant in new veld (after a recent fire) near Fisherhaven by the Bot River Lagoon.

The yellow, thread-like buds are mostly yet to open for the pollen to become available. The male flower has four perianth lobes in true Proteaceae family tradition, united into a tube at the base. The anthers are slender and there is a thread-like style present, tipped with a club-shaped stigma that functions as pollen presenter in the usual Protea-like way.

Obliging insects transport this pollen, although the species produces no nectar as an additional food source (beside the pollen) to reward and entice their friends (Bean and Johns, 2005; http://pza.sanbi.org).