L. prostratum is a low creeping shrub with trailing branches of up to 2 m (6.6 ft) long, with many originating from a woody underground rootstock.
The flowering branches are straight, slender, about 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter and covered in very short soft hairs and very shyly branching.
The approximately erect, entire, linear leaves of 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in) long and 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) wide have no leaf stalk or stipules at their base, with some short felty hairs that may get lost when aging have a dull olive-green color.
The flower heads are many-flowered and compact, set individually, sometimes with two or three near the end of the branches, each on a 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long stalk, and is shaped like half of a globe of 2–2½ cm (0.8–1.0 in) in diameter.
The common base of the flowers in the same head is 6 mm (0.24 in) in diameter, with a wide flat top (best seen in a flower head cut lengthwise in two equal halves).
The bracts that subtend the head as a whole (called involucral bracts) are lance-shaped with a pointy tip 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and 1–1½ mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide, overlapping, rubbery, softly hairy on the outer surface, with a tuft of hairs at the grey tip.
The woolly bracts that subtend individual flowers are 7 mm (0.28 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide lance-shaped, the edges role inward and clasping the perianth.
The perianth is 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long, straight, bright yellow when flowering starts by turning warm orange with age.
The tube of the perianth is hairless, cylindric in shape and 3 mm (0.12 in) long.
The four lobes of the perianth curl back on themselves and may be slightly hairy.
The style is straight, 1–1½ cm (0.4–0.6 in) long, initially pale later becoming orange.
The style is tipped by a blunt cylindric pollen presenter of 1 mm (0.039 in) long, with the stigma groove at the very tip.
Subtending the ovary are four awl-shaped scales of 1 mm (0.039 in) long that produce nectar.
The flowers of Leucospermum prostratum are sweetly scented.
L. prostratum is a low creeping shrub with trailing branches of up to 2 m (6.6 ft) long, with many originating from a woody underground rootstock. The flowering branches are straight, slender, about 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter and covered in very short soft hairs and very shyly branching. The approximately erect, entire, linear leaves of 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in) long and 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) wide have no leaf stalk or stipules at their base, with some short felty hairs that may get lost when aging have a dull olive-green color. The flower heads are many-flowered and compact, set individually, sometimes with two or three near the end of the branches, each on a 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long stalk, and is shaped like half of a globe of 2–2½ cm (0.8–1.0 in) in diameter. The common base of the flowers in the same head is 6 mm (0.24 in) in diameter, with a wide flat top (best seen in a flower head cut lengthwise in two equal halves). The bracts that subtend the head as a whole (called involucral bracts) are lance-shaped with a pointy tip 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and 1–1½ mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide, overlapping, rubbery, softly hairy on the outer surface, with a tuft of hairs at the grey tip. The woolly bracts that subtend individual flowers are 7 mm (0.28 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide lance-shaped, the edges role inward and clasping the perianth. The perianth is 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long, straight, bright yellow when flowering starts by turning warm orange with age. The tube of the perianth is hairless, cylindric in shape and 3 mm (0.12 in) long. The four lobes of the perianth curl back on themselves and may be slightly hairy. The style is straight, 1–1½ cm (0.4–0.6 in) long, initially pale later becoming orange. The style is tipped by a blunt cylindric pollen presenter of 1 mm (0.039 in) long, with the stigma groove at the very tip. Subtending the ovary are four awl-shaped scales of 1 mm (0.039 in) long that produce nectar. The flowers of Leucospermum prostratum are sweetly scented.
Leucospermum prostratum