This bud of a Protea nitida flowerhead was seen on a mountain slope near Worcester. It represents the short-lived oblong stage of the flowerhead. The perianths are just beginning to project above the involucral bracts at the top. The involucre appears olive green in the light that prevailed when the photo was taken.
The imbricate structure of the bracts overlapping like roof tiles or fish scales on the outside of the cylinder is regular, looking neat. The red margins that sometimes colour these involucral bracts are lacking in this head.
The outer bracts around the involucral receptacle at the base are small and whitish (Rourke, 1980).