Protea compacta flowering by a mountain road

The longest Protea compacta floral bracts in the photo taken on the Akkedisberg in winter curve in only their pink tips at the broad upper ends of their cone-shape heads. Some of the wavy leaves curve their tips out or keep them straight, some bending their margins in. The broadly oblong leaves ascend and overlap, keeping their stems mostly concealed. With the light the blades appear bluer, against it greener.

The brown involucre nearly covered by leaves is from an older flowerhead already losing parts as it dries.