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''Titanopsis'' is a
Titanopsis succulents are small plants, often found growing low to the ground with a thick root system that branches out six to ten times.
The plant itself is often hidden by its own leaves, which grows in clusters of four to eight, forming a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of about 10 species of succulent plant
In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meanin ...
s of the family Aizoaceae
The Aizoaceae (), or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1,800 species. Several genera are commonly known as 'ice plants' or 'carpet weeds'. The Aizoaceae are also referred to a ...
, indigenous to the arid regions of South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
and Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country on the west coast of Southern Africa. Its borders include the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south; in the no ...
.
The name ''Titanopsis'' is derived from the Greek (god), ''Titan
Titan most often refers to:
* Titan (moon), the largest moon of Saturn
* Titans, a race of deities in Greek mythology
Titan or Titans may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Fictional entities
Fictional locations
* Titan in fiction, fictiona ...
'', the sun, and ''opsis'', appearance, from the sun-like appearance of the flower.
Distribution
The genus has a disjunct distribution, occurring in three separate areas of southern Africa: southern Namibia, the region around the south-eastern border of Namibia and a larger area spanning between the former Cape Province and Orange Free State inSouth Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. This unusual distribution means that the different ''Titanopsis'' species live in different rainfall systems - either summer or winter rainfall depending on the species.
Description
Titanopsis succulents are small plants, often found growing low to the ground with a thick root system that branches out six to ten times.
The plant itself is often hidden by its own leaves, which grows in clusters of four to eight, forming a rosette
Rosette is the French diminutive of ''rose''. It may refer to:
Flower shaped designs
* Rosette (award), a mark awarded by an organisation
* Rosette (design), a small flower design
*hence, various flower-shaped or rotational symmetric forms:
** R ...
pattern. These leaves have a truncate tip and rough warty little tubercles at the apex of the leaves. When fully grown, the leaves range from long.
The tips of the leaves have been noted to resemble limestone, allowing the plant to blend into its surroundings in its natural rocky habitat.
In the fall, the plant produces one to three yellow flowers with a diameter. These flowers lack any extra bracts
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale.
Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also loo ...
Species
Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
History
Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...
accepts the following species:
Cultivation
Cultivation is easy with full sun, very well-drained soil, and attention to the natural rainfall of the particular species' habitat. The more popular species from the eastern areas, such as '' Titanopsis calcarea'', ''fulleri'' and ''luederitzii'' are adapted to summer rainfall, while those from further west, rarer species such as ''Titanopsis schwantesii'' and ''hugo-schlecteri'', are adapted to winter rainfall, when they also flower. The plants arecalcicole
A calcicole, calciphyte or calciphile is a plant that thrives in lime rich soil. The word is derived from the Latin 'to dwell on chalk'. Under acidic conditions, aluminium becomes more soluble and phosphate less. As a consequence, calcicoles grown ...
(they appreciate calcareous soils), but any typical loose succulent soil mix is suitable.
Division of larger clumps is possible in some cases, but as most species have tuberous rootstocks and offset slowly, seed production is the most common method of propagation.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q138435 Aizoaceae Aizoaceae genera