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Stone Plants
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Stone plants are a group or plants found in Southern Africa, mostly from arid or desert environments. The stone plants belong to the family mesembranthemum a large group containing many different genera all with a typical daisy like flower that closes during the evening and reopens during the day, mainly in the afternoon.
The Stone Plants comprise of the following main genus: Lithops, Conophytums, Agryoderma, Pleiospilos, Frithia, Fenestaria and Faucaria. Stone plants have evolved to survive in extremely harsh environments in very arid and hot conditions. Each genera has developed its own methods of survival. Lithops have windows in the skin to allow light to enter the inner surface of the leaf like an eyeball would. The photosynthetic tissue is located on the inner surface and so the leaf is completely sealed during the day and does not release water to the atmosphere. The lithop lives below ground level with only the window exposed to conserve moisture, it is so efficient that it has been know to live several years without a drink. Another water saving trait that many of the stone plants have is the ability to recycle their own juices. A lithop consists of a single pair of fleshy leaves, as a new pair forms they draw the water and nutrients from the old leaves until they have totally withered so the change of leaves can be achieved without the aid of any water.
Stone plants are fun to grow but are very slow and are not for the impatient. Some of our collection plants maybe only 7 to 10cm across and maybe over 20 years old. Stone plants thrive on neglect and require a great deal of sunlight to keep their shape. Water is the worst enemy of some of the varieties and some plants may need water only 2 or 3 times per year while others like the Faucarias can be watered regularly. A simple rule with stone plants, when in doubt don't water.
Enjoy the photographs of this family. This site will be expanded at a later date, please visit this site again.