Peony flower has multiple 'centres' around the edge

[longtompot]

Any idea what could have caused this. They were planted about 3 or 4 years ago and one plant has finally flowered this year with two buds. The larger one appears to have several stamen patches around the outside of the main flower. It also has a normal centre

Picture might help, I for one can't quite visualise this.

@TonTonMacoute I did think about doing that but it was still soaked from a downpour and quite difficult to get a good photo. Hopefully these will help, if not, imagine one large flower in the middle and then around the outside of it, smaller half flowers.

A few more photos

Sometimes plants produce strange random flowerings, I think they’re called ‘fascinations’. They don’t seem to harm the plant or happen again. Perhaps this is what’s going on with your Peony.

Thank you for the terminology, I have now found out why it might have happened. I think I read about it before many years ago but forgot

www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/fasciation-in-flowers.htm

How strange, glad you have found out OP. It's very interesting , it may be just because it was the first flower!

Lovely colour!

Fasciation involves a flattening of the stem, often happens with Linaria. But as Bumble says, lots of odd flower things happen, sometimes mutation, sometimes bud damage early in development