This week, our Hibiscus plant has been presenting lascivious flower after lascivious flower for its spring offering.
As one flower is appearing, another is dying after carefully wrapping itself tightly into a petaled shroud and dropping to the floor – the perfect cat toy for about a minute.
A blooming Hibiscus flower is an excellent model for teaching the basic reproductive parts of some plants. It’s long pistil (primarily of female organs) arises from its hidden ovary in the center of the flower like a city’s observation tower. Atop the tower, like radio antennas, red stigma orbs (containing pollen) protrude on their styles above a rounded yellow observation-ball-like stamen of (male reproductive) anthers and filaments.
(Brooklin, Maine)