Crassula lactea buds

The Crassula lactea inflorescence is a cluster, structurally in the shape of a thyrse comprising several dichasia.

In the photo taken at Nature’s Valley during May one flower in about each cluster is open and few buds have swollen and whitened, heralding imminent opening. The differing bud sizes suggest a prolonged flowering season, sustained by different open flowers over time. Insects are thus fed for a longer period and there will be increased walking about upon the inflorescence, enhancing the chances of finding the open flowers of the moment. This aids pollen transfer from all the traffic for longer.

The five small sepals of each flower are green and pointed, holding only the back end of the pointed corolla (Frandsen, 2017; Smith, et al, 2017; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).