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  Titanopsis calcarea CACTUS ART
NURSERY

Cultivation and Mail Sale
of Cacti and Succulents.

 


T. calcarea 35 km nw Brandvlei 
The plants of this species are quite variable, depending on origin, clone and sun exposure.
 

Description: Mat forming succulent with basal rosettes up to 10 cm wide.
Leaves: Up to 2.5 cm long with truncate tip. This species has variously coloured leaves, usually grey or blue-green, densely covered at the apex with whitish, creamy grey, ochre, red or bluish rough tubercles (depending on plant's origin).
Flowers: 2 cm orange-yellow flowers in late fall and winter.
 

T. calcarea ( Campbell west Kimberley )

T. calcarea Oorlosghoek with buds

Cultivations: This species is easy to grow and clumps readily, forming a beautiful succulent mat. Needs moderate water when growing in late fall and early spring. Keep somewhat dry the rest of the time. Like all living rocks, they thrive in porous soils with excellent drainage. It can tolerates high heat and heavy frost (hardy to -10° C). It is a very rewarding succulent, and can be cultivated in desert gardens in warm climates or in greenhouses or windowsills in the home. Enjoys bright shade in summer and full sun in the other seasons.
Propagation:
They grow quickly from seed or by division of larger clumps.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Titanopsis calcarea:


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Family: Mesebrianthemaceae (Aizoaceae)

Scientific name:  
Titanopsis calcarea (Marl.) Schwant.

Origin South Africa (Bushmanland, Upper Karoo)

Habitat:  With a white incrustation to the leaves, it is confined to limestone outcrops. This is probably a rare case of protective coloration in plants akin to that found in the animal kingdom and these plants blend in well with their surroundings.

Etymology Titanopsis calcarea is the species of Titanopsis most frequently seen in cultivation, the name means 'looking like limestone'

Synonyms: Titanopsis calcareum

Genus Titanopsis: There are three to six species, depending on botanists' opinions. Some botanists have now lumped  T. lüderitzii and T. primosii in with T. schwantesii.
The species list for Titanopsis is considered to be:


T. calcarea  Campbell west Kimberley
This species is a truly impressive living rock, with unique leaves with very variable colourful "warts" on their ends, making them blend well in the rocky areas of South Africa where they are native.
 

 


 


Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

Photo gallery TITANOPSIS

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.