At close range the stem-tips of Pleiospilos compactus subsp. canus display several surface features resembling the skin conditions some women dread when indulging in much outdoor living. Sun, wind, dry air and rain do take their toll, rendering old stems reptilian in appearance. These plants do not, however, combat cosmetic problems, they simply add new leaves for ensuring sufficient photosynthesis, letting the old ones dry and disappear in their own time (Smith, et al, 1998; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).