Leucadendron eucalyptifolium.
The Gum-leaf conebush is in Family Proteaceae.
They are used in the cut flower trade.
They are evergreen shrubs up to 5 m high.
The narrowly elliptic leaves are similar to eucalypts.
Up to 10 cm long and 8 mm wide, they turn yellow in the cooler months.
The tips are pointed and the hairs seen on young leaves disappear with age.
Terminal inflorescences are cone-like flowerheads.
Male and female flowers are on separate plants.
The male flowerheads are up to 2.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.
At the base are long, bright yellow bracts.
The flowers, with 4 tepals, are also yellow.
After pollen production the heads die and fall off.
Female inflorescences, with yellow flowers, have fewer, yellow involucral bracts.
Bracts at the base of the flowers have dense, white hairs.
After fertilisation the flowerheads enlarge up to 4.5 cm long and 2 cm wide.
The flowers darken to red or brownish.
The cones stay on the bush for years and release winged seeds.
J.F.
