No idea what tropical plant this is, but I thought the pattern on this part was so beautiful and unusual. Is this the part that flowers? (I have SO much to learn, lol!) Photographed in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo on May 2nd.

Thank you, scott.zona, for the ID and following information - much appreciated!

"It is the inflorescence bearing dozens of tiny four-petaled flower buds. It is something in the family Cyclanthaceae, but hard to say what without seeing the leaves. One of the most commonly cultivated cyclanths is the Panama Hat Plant, Carludovica palmata."