While tidying the shrub beds we noticed this
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124571319@N07/

It was identified by Devon Wildlife Trust as Lesser/Common broomrape,
Orobanche minor. This quite strange plant has no obvious leaves and
is parasitic and hosted by Senecio greyii, a fairly common cultivated
shrub in this part of the world. The image shows the flower stalks
growing up through the chipped bark, immediatly adjacent to a Senecio
greyii. Further information at
http://sppaccounts.bsbi.org.uk/content/orobanche-minor
--
rbel