Upoffmebum

By Upoffmebum

Pre-bud Hibiscus

Pretty much a hollow green shell at this stage - with the exception of the unidentified bug wandering around inside - but this will soon morph into a spectacular Hibiscus flower.
The pentagon-shaped structure at the bottom of the bud base will open up through a number of different stages before transitioning into the tightly furled leaves of the bud, encased in a bright green pod.
Like a lot of ostentatious flowers - I'm looking at you, Bird of Paradise - the Hibiscus flower seems to prefer going through its discrete growth phases in private, among the shadows, at night, and away from prying eyes. Each morning it has reached a different stage, but you never get to witness it actually moving towards that stage.
Hard to stay in shy and retiring wallflower mode given the very public display it eventually becomes when in full bloom - with large, showy pink-and-white leaves, and a single, ludicrously bright-pink stamen thrusting up from the centre, with a multitude of thin offshoots each topped by a little ball of yellow pollen.
No privacy to be had in that final phase, 'cos right now, it's showtime, folks.

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