Protea wentzeliana Engl.

Virgate shrub 0.6-1.3(-l.5) m. high, with simple stems or rarely (especially after damage) with a few branches in upper part, flowering stems usually showing at least 2 bud-scars indicating 3 years’ growth, probably with a woody rootstock.. Stems subglabrous to villous at least when young.. Leaves elliptic or narrowly elliptic to oblong or narrowly oblanceolate, 7-12 × (1.3-)2-4.2(-5.5) cm., (1.5-)2-5 times as long as broad, cuneate to rounded at the base, usually rounded at the apex, pubescent with shaggy irregular appressed hairs and sometimes long appressed hairs intermixed, often glabrescent at maturity, with a dull leathery texture.. Heads (6-)7-9(-ll) cm. in diameter, the bracts usually spreading or deflexed at flowering.. Middle bracts 2.5-3.5 × 1-1.5 cm., obtuse to rounded, brownish or with pink tip, tomentose when young with brownish or greyish hairs but often glabrescent in parts, usually remaining strongly ciliate at margins; inner bracts (3-)4-6.5 × 0.6-1.2 cm., like middle bracts in colour and indumentum, about equalling or slightly exceeding the perianth.. Flowers (3.5-)4-5.5 cm., white or occasionally with pink tinge at apex.. Perianth-base glabrous; claw villous outside with rusty-brown hairs, glabrous or with hairs near margin at base inside; limb 10-13(-14) mm., villous with greyish brown hairs.. Style glabrous.