Protea scolymocephala when the carnival is over

Last year’s dry Protea scolymocephala flowerhead shows how the bracts and styles end. Nothing is divulged, however, about the seeds safely stored under all the dry debris made to appear uninteresting. Key point security is best maintained without publicity.

Lowland fynbos species like this Protea were once prolific in the far southwest of the Western Cape. Today many are vulnerable from losing claims to natural living space, as their habitat is continually being transformed to meet the elaborate and extensive living space requirements of humans.

This popular plant counts among the easier proteas to grow, however. It is done from seed or semi-hardwood cuttings (Manning, 2007; Rebelo, 1995; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).