Leucospermum conocarpodendron, Kleinmond Nature Reserve, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa. [photo HG Robertson ©]

The Kreupelhout (Leucospermum conocarpodendron ssp. viridum) flowering in late spring on the southern Cape Peninsula with storm clouds above, South Africa. [photo Colin Paterson-Jones ©]

Protea scarab beetles (Trichostetha capensis) on the flowerhead of the pincushion Leucospermum conocarpodendron ssp. viridum, Cape Peninsula, South Africa. [photo Colin Paterson-Jones ©]

A female Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer) perched on a flowerhead of Leucospermum conocarpodendron ssp. conocarpodendron, a source of nectar, above the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. [photo Colin Paterson-Jones ©]

A Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) feeding on the flowerheads of the Pincushion (Leucospermum conocarpodendron ssp. viridum) in the southern Cape Peninsula, South Africa. [photo Colin Paterson-Jones ©]

Cocktail Ants (Crematogaster peringueyi) investigating, probably to eat the elaiosome, seeds released from a mature flowerhead of Leucospermum conocarpodendron in summer on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. [photos Colin Paterson-Jones ©]