  We consider aspects of the relationship between nilpotent orbits in a
semisimple real Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ and those in its complexification
$\mathfrak{g}_{\mathbb{C}}$. In particular, we prove that two distinct real
nilpotent orbits lying in the same complex orbit are incomparable in the
closure order. Secondly, we characterize those $\mathfrak{g}$ having non-empty
intersections with all nilpotent orbits in $\mathfrak{g}_{\mathbb{C}}$.
Finally, for $\mathfrak{g}$ quasi-split, we characterize those complex
nilpotent orbits containing real ones.
