I posted a pic of one of mine that looks like that and was told it was developing a crest. Not sure why it happens but I think mine did it in response to a terrible mealy bug infestation.

Here is a link that might be useful: odd growth

Those are not necessarily "crests". Until they grow out more, I would say they are new plants and with lots of time will develop stems and can be removed as new plants... then again, I'm having another senior moment and they will develop beautiful crests! As to the ID, probably Echeveria.

The attached pic is of one of my Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy'. It got top heavy and is leaning over "bonsai-style". While you can't see the stem, all of those are new plants of various sizes and not "crests". The main head of the plant is on the left of the picture with a flower spike.

Howard what's the difference between the posters stem on the right, mine and the one you posted? They look the same to my untrained eye.

Hi Karyn. Both stems on the poster's plant are the same. IMHO, they are small rosettes that will grow into new heads. When you say, "Yours", I don't see a pic of yours and don't recall your thread, sorry. What I am saying is the poster's plant and mine are doing the same thing; growing new rosettes along main stem. Having said this, in time, if the poster's new "rosettes" grow a wide flat stem rather than the typical cylindrical stem, then that would be a crest. In my pic, you can see individual plants of different sizes. If this were a crest all of the "heads" would be of the same or very similar size. Only time will tell how these will develop; they could very well be growing beautiful crests!

Howard

karyn posted link to her thread - here is her photo:

karyn, I hope you don't mind me posting your photo for you
Rina

I think it might be E. 'Imbricata' which is a vigorous and easy-to-grow hybrid, an excellent plant. Enjoy!

Thanks Rina. Howard I posted a link to the entire thread regarding the odd (what I thought was odd) growth on my echeveria on my initial reply to the OP. You said that it was a crest and I was just wondering what the difference was as I'm not terribly familiar with echeverias.

Many thanks, everyone. My research into crests had led me to the conclusion that mine wasn't. But none of the literature I could find mentions these on the stems at all. I had wondered about removing the top rosette... but not brave enough.
I'm in Australia, so sorry about the time lag.
Karyn1, thanks for the link.

Minnie,

It's quite common for plants of the New World Crassulaceae (your Echeveria is a genus of them) to offset at the base of a beheaded stem, or a stem which suffered damage at its growing point. Sometimes that's one or two plants, and sometimes it's a profusion of them, as Howard's plant illustrates. Karyn's plant (thank you, Rina) has that explosion of growth too, but it's in cristate (cresting) form.

Minnie,

You've a countrywoman who's gone to the next realm in terms of Echeverias, I think - if the bug's bitten you, Bev's the lady to talk with (you can send her an email by clicking her handle).

And yes, removing that main rosette will result in pupping (just leave some stem for the new pups to form on) - your plant's going into summer less-growth-or-dormancy time soon, so behead it in the spring or wait until next fall (personally, I chop till I drop).

Here is a link that might be useful: Ech Maniac Says It Subtly

What Jeff has said above is true but the situation you have, Minnie, is that you haven't much stem to cut, if any and you already have pups growing. I'd clean it up by removing the dead leaves because they detract from the natural beauty of your plant and they can harbor/hide "THE NASTIES"!!!!! MEALY BUGS. In a year or so, you can re-visit your plant and make whatever artistic decision you want and the pups will either be larger or you'll have a crest.

Stush, Jeff

Are all of the 'babies' too small to separate? Won't they grow some roots just like leaves would?

Rina

Rina,

They would, but it's better (takes less time) if they're nursed on the main stem until they're larger.

As a follow-up. While doing some house cleaning I happened to note the plant I posted above does have a crested portion. Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy Turvy' goes back and forth. As you can see even this crest will start to grow single heads from the crest (Pic #1,right side), but for now they are all the same size in a nice tight row (Pic #2)

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Howard thanks for posting that last pic. The crest is really obvious.

Again, many thanks to all. I agree, there isn't enough stem to cut it, as the whole thing is only 4" high overall. So I will take Cactusmcharris's advice, and wait a bit.
I've put a pic here of the other side of it, you can see how tightly packed they are!
And I'll remove all the dead leaves right now!
So grateful for all your help and advice.