Leucospermum calligerum stem growth taking over

New stem-tip leaf growth is vigorous on this Leucospermum calligerum stem, no longer putting much effort into the floral spectacle that once was the sole focus at the tip. The leaf-tip glands are red, the youngest leaves suffused red in their upper parts as well. Some of these upper leaves end truncated, an effect related to the glandular teeth.

The tired flowerheads lower down are disintegrating, their last gasp styles curving inwards, still in two colours to the end. Style colour of this Leucospermum starts off pale yellow, turning carmine in the upper parts, whitish below in maturity. The stigmas are still mainly yellow here, the few succumbed to black probably dry.

Giving up on flower maintenance does not mean the plant gives up on fruiting in these old heads. Seeds are the plant’s key to the future. The fruits are released in this species a month or two after flowering (Manning, 2009; Rebelo, 1995; iNaturalist; https://pza.sanbi.org).