This is a flower of Banksia oblongifolia, a plant that is native to Eastern Australia.
Banksia lives for about sixty years. During its life it produces cones sealed with resin.
The cones cannot sprout until the resin has melted in forest fires.
Banksia has lignotubers – woody coverings that over the tubers of the plant underground.
When a forest fire is burning away the growth above ground, the lignotubers protect the shoots underground. Once the fire has passed, the shoots then sprout.
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