These observations are consistent with simulations of the γ-form C2/c unit cell containing staircase packing in the alcohol or, for the β-form unit cells (P21/c or P2/c), nematic phases (Figure ). We additionally formed VDF images using a virtual aperture for 00ℓ spot positions, but no contrast attributable to 00ℓ diffraction was observed (Figures ). The staircase or nematic phase packing as well as the strong hydrogen bonding interactions between paired alcohol groups within C30H61OH crystals (Figures , S31) likely explains the observed differences in crystal formation in the 'chains-flat' orientation between C31H64 and C30H61OH. Grain formation is likely disfavoured by the less ordered stacking in the staircase or nematic phase structure. Moreover, changes in orientation across alcohol-terminated groups requires distortion and loss of stabilising hydrogen bonding interactions (Figure ).