Discussion

Protea

We briefly discussed Protea in week 13 in preparation for the painting subject that week, king protea. Protea is a genus in the Proteaceae family which is comprised of around 80 genera and over 1,600 species. The Protea genus has from 112 to 136 species depending on which authority is used. The great majority of Protea species are native to South Africa.

There is a wide variety of blossom forms among Protea species. Here are a few.

Leucospermum

Leucospermum is another genus in the Proteaceae family. It is comprised of 48 or 50 distinct species which also vary somewhat in appearance. (LCSP is an abbreviation for Leucospermum.)

All the members of the Leucospermum genus are characterized by masses of florets with long styles (stalks) of the male stamens, tipped by pollen-bearing stigma, that rise above the main body of female pistils, giving the entire blossom a pincushion-like appearance. The illustration below shows the structure of florets.

Though technically belonging to a different genus than Protea, the members of the Leucospermum genus are commonly called pincushion protea. My painting subject this week has the common name of Ornamental pincushion (Leucospermum cordifolium).

Note the apparent lack of bracts common to the flower heads among Protea species. They are there but are relatively tiny. They are the scaly-looking things at the base of the flower head.

Ornamental pincushion flower heads most often come one to a branch, but sometimes there are two or three. They also come in other colors, like this red pair.

Yellow is another common color.

Ornamental pincushion bushes grow up to 5 feet tall and can spread out more than six feet.

The peak blossoming season is in the late winter to early spring. Ornamental pincushions are not self-pollinating. Typical pollinators in its native South African habitat are scarab beetles and birds like this Southern Double-collared Sunbird that move from plant to plant. This sunbird has its head buried among the florets to get at the nectar, transferring pollen on its head that it gathered from other plants to this plant's pistils.

Mature seeds typically develop in 9 to 12 months.

Floret buds on flower heads are those tightly curled balls in the photo below.

The leaves are mostly directed upward. They tend to be narrowly oval with serrated ends featuring red-fringed tips. The flower heads in this photo are a little more advanced than in the previous photo.

Individual blossoms are long lasting, making them ideal in floral arrangements. 

Ornamental pincushion bushes are perennials that typically last 8 to 10 years. They have no nutritional or medicinal value. Their colorful appearance when in bloom is reason enough to enjoy them.