Crassula ciliata showing two leaf orientations

Two contrasting leaf orientations are displayed by the Crassula ciliata plant in this photo. In typical basal leaf clusters on stems that are still short, the leaf blades are borne parallel to each other in slightly spaced positions, like a book with pages gaping a little. Here the leaves tend to overlap each other somewhat, the narrow tips of their elliptic, convex shapes pointing upwards.

The second presentation, seen on the lower parts of the tall flowering stem is very different: The opposite leaves are turned squarely to face each other (above the stem-tip), the leaf-tips pointing upwards. 

On a mature plant several branches of the flower stalk may be seen, each producing its own flower cluster. Small leaves or bracts growing in spaced pairs are found on the upper stem parts, right up to the flowers (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iSpot).