After flowering Crassula fascicularis retains these dry, brown inflorescence leftovers until the purpose of the whole blooming exercise, the setting and dispersal of seed is concluded.
The December photo shows this annual finale, flowering having happened recently in spring. When the winter rain comes, new erect stems full of juicy green leaves will grow, and the unfolding of the full performance of stem-tip floral fascicles repeated. Fascicularis means clustered or bundled in Latin, referring to the form of the inflorescences (Manning, 2007; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com).