I was about to ask...all mine look like the upper picture though I see a seed trapped in the hairs on the stalk and I cut a pod the other day...opened an inner pod and it had clear colored seed, so I guess a little longer... Have you ever heard of cutting the head early and putting it in an upside down paper bag? or maybe removing the plant washing/removing the roots and putting upside down in the bag. Anyhow I've got 9 tries to get it right. Thanks so much Lynn for your help! oh here's a link where this person talks about cutting the blooming stalks and putting them all in one place for bee pollination...then seed collection.
http://www.succulents.ca/sempe...
