Lynn, I think I can help you determine whether its a crested form or not. Every crested I've seen so far has multiple growth points through the length of the crest. If you look closely at the crest, you should see what could be interpreted as very tiny offsets trying to form, except that they are stacked together in a closely packed array. This should be different from a distorted rosette, in that the rosette distortion will look more like densely packed leaves, without the circular, rosette pattern in the leaves that I typically see in my crested ones. This is based on the Deep Fire Crested I've seen. However, the Mauna Kea is young and not big enough to let me see that in it yet.
Hope my explanation is clear. Take a close look and see what you find. Let us know, please...I'm trying to verify this principle to assist in IDing crests at an earlier stage of development.
What I see in your pic is that your spinosa is a crested/fasciated rosette. You hopefully will confirm that but I think its clear in the picture. I would definitely do a vertical division to save it immediately upon seeing any signs of flowering. If it is an old one that you think may bloom, try to do surgical propagation so you don't lose it.
Wow, so many unusual ones. I did not know that there were so many. Maybe the group in this forum can get a nice, expanded collection of crests and other unusual forms going.
-t
