Final stage

The sole remaining passionfruit flower has finally - and irretrievably - fallen off its perch.
Metaphorically, but mind you, it's not quite done yet. While it's not exactly in rehab with some measurable chance of recuperating, it is defiantly hanging on in palliative care mode.
So at this stage, it's quite a bit more about being not quite stone-cold dead than it is about showing any hopeful signs of continued life. Which is in pretty stark contrast to its former glory days as a fully blooming flower, standing very proud and very beautiful - see today's Extra photo.
Noticed over the past few mornings that it responds to the morning sun in the same way it always did as a flower - its four outside protector leaves slowly start to open up to reveal that amazing, intricately structured edifice of stamens and pods and stringy tasselly bits.
Only it just doesn't have enough life-force left to open all the way up - at best it gets to a third, or maybe halfway, before its opening up energy simply peters out, then completely stops.
As the light recedes, it makes an effort to close back up, but again doesn't quite manage to make it all the way.
It's all a bit sad, and tawdry, but also privileged, witnessing this thing of superb and glorious extroversion trying to slink back into its lowly shell, significantly less than a shadow of its former self, but still dignified, almost noble, in the process.
Vive le passionfruit!