Here’s part of Sunday’s (June 7th’s) “birth” of the latest “child” (flower) of our prolific Hibiscus plant. After budding, the petals grow tightly together like a packed parachute. When they reach the right length, a mechanism of cell expansion and other factors makes the petals begin to twirl open, as you see here. You actually can watch the petals moving if you’re as patient as Job.
The flower at this stage gives us a tantalizing peek at her red-buttoned “stigma” (pollen catchers) atop the “stamen” (funneling stalk) containing protruding yellow-buttoned “anthers” (pollen producers).
Within hours, the flower is entirely open, as you see above. Her flamboyant colors are to attract pollinators quickly – she will close and drop within days. (Brooklin, Maine)