Banksia

Banksias have the most wonderfull flowers in the shape of a giant cone, they bloom in different stages, first the soft layer which forms later the more spiky part from the bottom to the top. The flower is a food source for all kind of animals in the Australian bush. This is a West Australia species (Banksia menziesii) found along the coastal ranges of Perth. After blooming the seeds are very pretty too, often used for all kind of articrafts.