Bluebell gentian flower unrolling

Don’t know what it is with 2015, but I haven’t seen any bluebell gentians (Eustoma exaltatum ssp. russellianum) this year.* Last year on August 6th in far northeast Austin I photographed this unrolling bud that had caught my attention because of the prominent hole in one petal. I’ll anticipate your question and say that I don’t know what caused the hole itself and the rings around it.

———

* Two days ago I was pleasantly surprised to come across a few late bluebell flowers, but as I’d already prepared this post I decided to keep it in the lineup.

© 2015 Steven Schwartzman