This plant was thought to be Protea repens. Colour and shape of the involucral bracts don't quite match and the woolliness on the florets say not quite.
Plants are often encountered representing the borderlines between species or displaying combinations of unusual attributes. Speciation is after all a gradual process happening over numerous generations. The new species to appear tomorrow cannot be predicted credibly. Changes do not affect established species equally in all parts of their distribution ranges. Ecologies and microclimates differ too much.
And then there is horticulture that achieves accentuated plant features expected to stimulate sales. This may include floral superiority, plant size, growing speed, hardiness and many other aspects favoured by gardeners and nursery owners.
Unknown plant varieties introduced into new neighbourhoods, escapes into nature where they have never rooted and may make mischief, or hair-brained marketing schemes of weird plants affect what we may see growing.
Sinister agendas involving plants exist for get-rich-quick, get-high-quick, get-thin-quick or get-loved-quick. Such ventures embarked upon by impatient humans indicate that the world has no balance in protecting species rights. The minds of budding botanical Agatha Christies and would-be entrepreneurs go racing.
A long story to warrant a pretty Protea picture that did not quite fit the species (or the knowledge) pattern! Everybody has a life quota of flowers to admire and possibly identify tomorrow.