Usually when I try to photograph this kind of flower I end up focusing on the petals and the stigmata (I think that’s what those five purplish things at the end of the stalk are called) are out of focus. This time I made a concerted effort to have the stigmata in focus and let the rest of the flower—which I am pretty sure is some kind of hibiscus—take care of itself.
It seems to have worked out pretty well and as an added bonus the light caused the inside of the flower to glow a little, giving some depth and texture to the petal.
Glowing hibiscus flower
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Goal achieved…Fabulous!
Thanks. The goal was relatively modest, the achievement was modest too, but satisfying nonetheless.
It is a stigma, which sits at the end of the style. These two parts make up the pistil, which has the ovary at it’s base. The stigma is usually sticky because it receives the pollen. The flower looks like a rose of Sharon, which is essentially a cold hardy hibiscus. Hope this helps!
Thanks for the explanation. You’re my go-to person when it comes to flowers.