Helichrysum felinum heads in different stages

This Helichrysum felinum inflorescence represents different stages of flowerhead development. On the outside of the flattish, stem-tip cluster the youngest heads still have pink bracts only. Others are older with their inner bracts already starting to fade to white, while in the centre some flowerheads have the bracts pushed open, exposing the dense bunch of yellow disc florets. A very young inflorescence may still nod.

The yellowish green leaves visible below are narrow and long. The short-lived shrublets have a long blooming season through spring and summer on moist mountain slopes. This one was photographed in the Tradouw Pass during October (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; iSpot).