Protea compacta going bushy

Protea compacta is a species of rather restricted range in the far southwest of the Western Cape. This does not prevent these plants from showing ambition in growth prowess on a Pringle Bay mountain slope, flowering in May. One of the plant’s Afrikaans common names, duinesuikerbos (dune sugarbush), conceals the fact that it also performs on fynbos mountain slopes like this.

Big colonies of robust plants force other fynbos species, particularly the bulbs and annuals, to wait their turn until after the next fire. The dominant species of its spot for the moment, this Protea always has to grow from seed, slower than the resprouters that can take shortcuts from their lignotubers (Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; Mustart, et al, 1997; iNaturalist).