A year before this photo was taken a large Protea cynaroides bush stood here outside Greyton. The ample flowerheads in full bloom were similar to those in some of the other photos of the king protea in this Album. Then a huge summer fire came and ravaged the area as the locals will tell. 

This is what resprouting from the robust underground base and root system of P. cynaroides can do in a few months of recovery. In about two or three years the plant will present its first flowers again. It takes a few years more before the same luxurious abundance is regained. If there is not another fire.