One of the showiest plants in the Cape Fynbos ecoregion is the remarkable Leucospermum cordifolium. Fynbos is a chaparral-like shrubland located in SW South Africa that boasts some of the highest plant diversity in the world on a per-acre basis. This is despite the relatively homogeneous appearance of the plant community. Leucospermum cordifolium usually goes by the common name of pincushion flower and is widely grown for the cut flower trade worldwide. I would grow about a thousand of these in Arizona if I could, but I’ll just have to make do with photos and the occasional trip to their habitat.

This photo was taken at the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, which is directly adjacent to the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden in Betty’s Bay, Western Cape. The fynbos on the hills in the background doesn’t look like much, but it contains literally nearly a thousand plant species in just this canyon alone.

Pincushion flowers are part of the natural ecology of the Cape fynbos floristic kingdom. These and thousands of other unique plant species call this southwesternmost region of the African continent home.

Our tour guide Ralph Louw describes protea pollination biology to my friend Greg. It’s an interesting process for these very cool plants!

The pistils of the flowers are hidden atop of the anthers as the flowers develop. They are often pulled free by sunbirds seeking the nectar and the plant is ready for cross-pollination at that time.

A newly-emerging pincushion flower unfurls its pistils on a 4 foot tall Leucospermum cordifolium shrub. The warm sunset pinkish-orange tones are most appealing!

Cape sugarbirds (Promerops cafer) feed upon the flowering heads of Leucospermum as a primary food source in season. For more photos and discussion on birds that pollinate and feed upon the nectar of various southern African plants, visit this post here:

African Sunbirds, And Comparative Differences With American Hummingbirds