Crassula ciliata young and old

The colouring of Crassula ciliata old age has set in on leaves and flowers of the successful plant in picture. It is unlike the green of the young leaves next to it that will grow the same kind of tall stem, given the chance.

The thickish stem holds its dense inflorescence erect for last-minute pollination opportunities from insects, rating their chances of finding something to eat or drink.

Decussate pairs of small stem-leaves are withering, further gone than the disc leaves below (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984).