Leucadendron tinctum blushing leaves

The male flowerheads on male Leucadendron tinctum plants are fluffy yellow pompons. There are oily, yellow involucral bracts around the stamens.

The specific name, tinctum, is derived from the Latin word tinctus meaning dyed, referring to the sumptuous colouring.

Around the already brown pollen cone in picture the stem-tip involucral leaves (below the bracts) have assumed a blushing pink tint with discoloured vein lines extending into the creamy yellow leaf tips. Involucral leaves are usually brightly and differently coloured to the other, normal leaves lower down.

There is probably more floral colouring present in this late stage of dead stamens than at the time of the real flowerhead (Privett and Lutzeyer, 2010; Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; Eliovson, 1973; Andrew, 2017; iNaturalist).