Haworthia magnifica var. magnifica burglar bars

When Haworthia magnifica var. magnifica is ensconced among stones (or in the earth) like this, little more than the horizontal, triangular leaf tops face the world outside. This defensive position is also successful when such a plant is not blessed with shade providing shrubs that come with a privileged birth.

Needed sunlight penetrates the translucent dark window uppermost in each leaf, facilitating photosynthesis deep inside. The embellishment of windows with cream-coloured burglar bars has come into fashion in South Africa lately. Haworthia species had them long before the first glass window pane ever appeared.