The genus Titanopsis belongs to the Mesembryanthemaceae family and is restricted to the western parts of South Africa & Namibia. They are most well known because of their leaf tips which are densely covered with prominent warts. The wart's epidermis overlies tannin idioblasts (cell that store up tannins) which makes the plant hardly edible to herbivores. In the fissures, in between the warts, a few stomata are hiding. Therefore, the fissure protects the plant from dessication, as most of their water losses are made through the stomata.

Titanopsis hugo-schlechteri

Titanopsis hugo-schlechteri

Titanopsis calcarea

Titanopsis calcarea

Titanopsis calcarea

Titanopsis sp

Titanopsis fulleri

Titanopsis calcarea

Titanopsis sp.

Titanopsis sp.

Mesembryanthemaceae sp.

Titanopsis calcarea X Schwantesia sp.

Titanopsis calcarea X Schwantesia sp.

Titanopsis calcarea

Faucaria sp, nice teeth

Crassula sp (Nuwerus, South Africa). The epidermis is densely covered with trichomes (epidermal outgrowths), which are specialized cells storing up the toxic compounds of the plant to drive away the herbivores. They may also reduce the evaporation through the stomata.

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