Cineraria geifolia stubble-bud

This Cineraria geifolia flowerhead bud displays some mysterious spine- or papilla-like white growths on the still closed, green involucral bracts. Or maybe they are merely overfed hairs. The growths, scattered randomly upon the involucre, are not only on the margins. It is uncertain whether these protrusions consistently feature on the flowerhead involucres.

The bract tips are purple where they still join at the top of the bud, the colouring mainly along their edges. The bract tips converge in acute points to fit neatly over the developing florets inside (Manning, 2007; Mustart, et al, 1997; iNaturalist).