Lithops

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Lithops
Lithops julii. The structures emerging between the leaves are flower buds
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Aizoaceae Genus: Lithops N.E.Br.
Species
See text.

Lithops is a genus of succulent plants native to Africa, mainly in Namibia and South Africa. It is especially characteristic of the Karoo region at Africa's southern tip. The word "lithos" is Greek and means "stone". "Lithops" means "stone-like". This is a very good description of these plants, which avoid being eaten by blending in with surrounding pebbles (camouflage). They are often known as pebble plants or living stones. The genus was first described by William John Burchell in 1811^{[verification needed]}.

Lithops hookeri. Four new leaves are emerging between the two old ones, indicating that the plant is about to divide into two.

Lithops sp. Blooms emerge between the leaves in autumn.

Lithops sp. The flowers are large enough to obscure the leaves. They open in the afternoon and close by evening. The plant requires full sunshine in order for the blooms to open fully.

Large stand of Lithops salicola

Individual plants usually have two bulbous, almost fused leaves opposite to each other and hardly any stem. The slit between the leaves contains the meristem and produces flowers and new leaves. Old leaves die after the new pair has emerged. Occasionally two new pairs emerge and plants can eventually form large clumps. The plant is almost entirely buried in soil, only exposing the flat upper surfaces of leaves. This is an adaptation to the dry, hot environment.

Lithops are also gaining popularity as a house plant. Seeds and plants are widely available in shops and over the Internet. They are relatively easy to grow, provided that they are not watered too generously and abundant light and heat are provided. In winter they should remain completely dry and temperature should be cooler. During the hot season, they like misting in the morning, but care must be taken lest they become too wet, or water droplets (which would serve as a burning-glass in direct sunlight) do not evaporate quickly enough.

For import plants (which are rare but sometimes can be acquired on specialist sales), it must be remembered that the flowering and growing season is in the Northern Hemisphere winter. Acquiring them in autumn and simply prolonging the resting period they are then in, maybe even not potting them, and providing them with fresh substrate in the spring as days become longer and sunnier is the easiest way to switch their circannual rhythm.

Lithops thrive best in coarse, sandy substrate. They love rather shallow but comparatively wide pots, where the substrate does not become wet and clammy in the deep part easily; under such conditions, they will over the years grow to form large clumps. Propagation is not too easy for hobbyists; seeds are small and take a long time to grow, while cuttings (of plants that bifurcate) are very delicate and easily rot.

[edit] Species

Many of the species listed have a large number of varieties and regional forms. These should not be passed on without giving location information.

[edit] External links

• A guide to the cultivation of Lithops
• Lithops gallery
• Lithops photo album (François Hoes, Belgium)
• Lithops collection (Yasuhiko Shimada, Japan)
• Lithops books
• More links ...

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Lithops