I often think of this species as the dinosaur of the
everlastings. It is a strong rigid shrub with brilliant pink
bracts and large flower heads. It is common in the fynbos on
mountain slopes in the Western Cape and can easily be spotted
from a distance. are rigid, erect, single-stemmed, woody shrubs
up to 1.2 m tall. Main stems are up to 60 mm diameter. Branches
are densely leafy and also have numerous short leafy stalks at
right angles to the main branches. Main branches decrease in
length from the base upwards so that many plants resemble
miniature Christmas trees. Leaves are very small, knob-like.
Flower heads, borne terminal on branches, are up to 60 mm in
diameter and contain 800 - 1000 individual flowers with very
showy bright pink bracts. The bracts fade to almost white and
become worn with age. Pappus is present and up to 150 pappus
bristles per flower have been counted. For more details about
the structure of these flowers see Asteraceae. Flowers are borne
from September to January. Distributed throu