pincushion, noun

Origin:
See quotation 1977.
In full pincushion protea: any of several indigenous shrubs of the genus Leucospermum of the Proteaceae, especially Leucospermum conocarpodendron (the ‘tree pincushion’), and L. cordifolium. See also kreupelboom sense a, protea sense 1 a.
1957 L.G. Green Beyond City Lights 214Caledon has the rarest and choicest wildflowers;..the coral-red pincushion protea.
1971 Evening Post 5 June (Weekend Mag.) 5The whole protea family thrives here, including..the gay pin-cushion proteas.
1973 M.R. Levyns in Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. VIII. 574Pincushions, Name applied to two species of Leucospermum (family Proteaceae)...Pincushions...Kreupelhout..(Leucospermum conocarpodendron.) Large, much-branched shrub with soft hairs on the younger parts.
1977 E. Palmer Field Guide to Trees of Sn Afr. 98Leucospermum, About 40 species,..easily distinguished because of the leaves with notched tips, and the flowers..with the styles protruding, in a roundish head resembling a pincushion — the basis of the common name ‘pincushion’ for members of the genus.
1987 T.F.J. Van Rensburg Intro. to Fynbos 16The tree pincushion (Leucospermum conocarpodendron sub-species), with its curry-yellow flowers, often grows into an extremely large tree. There is also a large variety of..pincushions (Leucospermum spp.).
1989 Your Gardening Questions Answered (Reader’s Digest Assoc.) 347Pincushion, Leucospermum..Indigenous, evergreen shrubs with leaves similar to protea leaves and flower heads composed of tiny flowers in shades of yellow, orange and salmon pink.
1989 Motorist Aug. 21If you think of the Cape, you think of proteas from the large pink and brown variety..to the fragile and dainty pincushion protea.
1991 [see kreupelhout].
In full pincushion protea:any of several indigenous shrubs of the genus Leucospermum of the Proteaceae, especially Leucospermum conocarpodendron (the ‘tree pincushion’), and L. cordifolium. See also kreupelboom sense a, protea sense 1 a.
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19571989