A clump of Anacampseros telephiastrum plants preparing for blooming may appear more like work in progress than floral, as the last hour before a wedding.

The pale, orange-brown stems are sparsely leafy with small clusters of stalked buds near their tips. Each stem arises from a ground-level leaf rosette. The narrow, cone-like buds end in acute tips.

The stems are still mustering the strength that will allow them to present the open flowers erectly and facing up, a bit like troops before the attention command is given.

Flowering is, however, a peaceable though determined undertaking in which plant actions are subtle and smooth, free from military abruptness.