Bulging midribs and ascending, arching-in veins on the old, hard Protea acaulos leaves in picture seem to be prominent on both surfaces.

There is marked thickening at the leaf base where the midrib becomes the sturdy petiole that holds the leaf erect. The slightly cartilaginous leaf margins are red, yellow or blackened by age, appearing slightly rolled under.

Flowerheads grow where the stem-tip emerges from the ground or on short, above-ground stems.

Old remains of the base, receptacle parts of flowerheads are retained for long as dry wood among new growth, removed by fynbos fires (Manning, 2007; Rourke, 1980; iNaturalist).