What is this please? It was about the size of a small adult foot.

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That is the spent seed pod (or "cone") of a Banksia plant, likely a Banksia integrifolia (Coast Banksia) or a similar species . While Banksias are Australian natives, they are popular in the UK among gardeners who enjoy "exotics." They are particularly common in coastal areas of Cornwall, Devon, and the Scilly Isles because the Gulf Stream keeps the air mild enough for them to survive.

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fionsichord@reddit

Australian here. That is NOT a banksia seed pod, I see them frequently, grew up around them, and could probably go and find you one in my yard or neighbourhood today if you wanted, my point is I’m incredibly familiar with them and they look NOTHING like this.

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MouseEmotional813@reddit

Looks more like a palm pod to me (also Australian)

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Professional-Map-801@reddit

The 'palm pod' guess is a common mistake, but if you zoom in, you can see these aren't individual fruits or seeds. They are woody follicles embedded into a central rachis.

Notice the horizontal slits on each 'bump'—those are the valves that open to release seeds. Palms (and even Cycads) don't have this woody, bivalve structure. This is 100% a Banksia integrifolia that has weathered a bit, which is why the usual 'fuzz' or styles have rubbed off, leaving just the woody skeleton. It’s basically the 'skeleton' of a Coast Banksia.

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Professional-Map-801@reddit

I appreciate the local perspective, but Australia has over 170 species of Banksia, and they don't all look like the 'big bad banksia men' from children's books.

This is a textbook Banksia integrifolia (Coast Banksia) cone. Unlike the species with large, gaping woody 'mouths,' integrifolia has these smaller, densely packed follicles. Since this was found in the UK, it makes perfect sense—integrifolia is the most common variety planted in British coastal gardens because of its hardiness. It’s a classic case of 'just because it doesn't grow in your backyard, doesn't mean it isn't an Aussie native!

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Hatchetface1705@reddit

I love how many clever people there are on Reddit. It gives me hope when reading some of the cretinous replies and posts on other subs.

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Unlucky-Public-2947@reddit

Am sure they are clever but the phenomena probably with specific knowledge being easily accessible due to so many users, probably all of us know something obscure that if a picture of it came up we would be able to recognise it.

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Mild_Karate_Chop@reddit

It is called the confluence of the birds that know ...as the great Sufi Attar says in his book

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Satin-Bloom@reddit

Interesting. Would love to hear more

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Suitable_Moment_1752@reddit

“Phenomenon” is singular. “Phenomena” is the plural form.

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x0_Kiss0fDeath@reddit

That and there is such easy access to things like google lens.

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MountainMuffin1980@reddit

Yeah I used Google lens and got the answer right away.

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fionsichord@reddit

If it told you this is a banksia pod it’s joking.

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briergate@reddit

I’ve been waiting for a decade for someone to ask an inane question about Virginia Woolf.

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chickdem@reddit

Note that clever as it could have been copy and pasted into AI

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fionsichord@reddit

The fact that you’ve posted this in response to a cretinous reply saying this is a banksia pod is giving me a good giggle this morning, so thanks. Also, look up banksias (or anything else claimed in comments like this) before you post a grateful post at people being great in the future.

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Hatchetface1705@reddit

Do you need a hug or something?

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Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit

I mean, all you need to do is image search > copy paste the answer. Not to ruin your illusion of people on the internet!

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fionsichord@reddit

It doesn’t mean you’ll be right. Just that something on the internet confirms the wrong answer, as has happened many, many times before.

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Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit

Sure but you can then...search the answer and cross check it.

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TaylorKatana@reddit

Oooh I do like a cretinous reply…

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smellyfeet25@reddit

true.

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notouttolunch@reddit

Or the rest of us just use Seek or something.

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Ok_Bumblebee_9873@reddit

The next comment down is "Flip flop with barnacles on it". Ha.

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Davutto@reddit

Tbf my first thought was something with barnacles on!

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Hatchetface1705@reddit

That’s pretty funny to be fair 😂

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tm_design@reddit

Valid assessment though, saw it and thought 'yep, that's barnacles on a flip flop' 😅

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GMoI@reddit

Thanks for telling us, my first reaction to the picture was it was a hedgehog covered in ticks.

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Suitable_Moment_1752@reddit

I thought it was a hedgehog too 🤣.

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MaggieMcB@reddit

I was gonna say it looked like it was growing pistachio nuts ,🤣🤣

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fionsichord@reddit

This is a banksia pod. Different species look a bit different, but still basically like this.

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BrutalOnTheKnees@reddit

Not being funny but I could tell that fucking thing was Australian just by looking at it. Why is their stuff so weird and scary 😭

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kittiestkitty@reddit

Not to be confused w the Bristol Banksia.

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Legolution@reddit

You need to get it verified, if you suspect it might be a real Banksia. It could be worth thousands.

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Prize_Technician_459@reddit (OP)

Thank you so much!

I was asking for my friend who found it while walking her dog today, she thought I would know but I was stumped tbh.

When I asked her how big it was she said "about the same size as my foot' and she has ridiculously tiny feet (my nickname for her is doll-foot) so yeah that's all I had to compare the size with lol.

I agree with those who are freaked out by it. My immediate response to her was "it's from the aliens' 👽

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