I have a very unusual tree in my yard it has now started to bloom. The flowers are approx 8" round they kinda look like a magnolia but the pistol in the center is very thick and the tip resembles a bottle brush
This could still be a magnolia. Probably you will have to post quite a few more details before anyone will be able to asist you.
perhaps the center is actually a tube of stamens surrounding the style (female part)? http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/images/401/Magnoliophyta/Magnoliopsida/Dilleniidae/Malvaceae/Abutilon/ look at pic "Stamens RK"
