Different clones, maybe?
What I have growing here hasn't the world's best inflorescence, but I like that the pedicels are steep and dark - particular traits that I want. If resulting offspring suggest I need to find a better taper I'll just find better genes somewhere else to plunder for that.
(Sorry I couldn't find a better pic, but this is an L. leichtlinii stem from my garden. Seems different from at least one stem in your pic.)
