It reminds me of these crested Peonies http://www.michls.de/img/0305155.jpg http://www.adpeonies.com/peonies/cheddarsupreme.jpg HTH Chris
Yes, actually that's a peony bud and the foliage from the upper part of the stem off to the left. I thought it was a peony until I thought the attending parts were those of a camellia. The lower (outer) petals also looked like the comparatively prim ones of a camellia. But that would be some camellia to have such a massive central tuft. Note that this is an herbaceous peony and not a shrub.