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Plant Mimics The Aizoaceae (formerly the Mesembryanthemaceae) How much can I look like a rock? Lithops olivaceae Lithops species • The clump of plants on this and the previous page are in the Genus Lithops, of which there are about 45 species with over 145 different varieties and forms. • Each individual plant is about 0.75 – 1.5 inches long and 0.5 – 1 inch wide. Lithops werneri mixed Lithops species Lithops • The word Lithops is from the Greek language; litho meaning stone and ops meaning face. The common name for these plants is living stones. • The natural habitat of Lithops is South and Southwest Africa. There are many species that grow in the coastal Cape of South Africa. Lithops Lithops olivaceae. New leaves are emerging from within the older leaves, which will dry up. The new leaves use the moisture from the older leaves while this is happening. Lithops Lithops are succulents, which means that they store a lot of water; in this case in the leaves and stem. Most of the plant (the stem) is underground to conserve moisture. These plants are native to extremely arid environments. Some of them get most of their moisture from fog. This particular plant is dichotomizing, which means that two new sets of leaves are emerging from one pair of older leaves. This is how one single plant with two leaves can eventually grow into a large clump of plants, as in the previous slide. Lithops Even with the majority of the plant body buried underneath the soil surface, Lithops are able to photosynthesize adequately through translucent “windows” on the tops of their leaves. These windows usually appear as darker spots or lines. Sunlight can penetrate into these windows down to chlorophyll-containing cells lining the inner portion of the stem. There are many succulent plants that have these translucent “windows” – they are often called “window plants”. When Lithops are grown in containers by collectors, the plant bodies are usually raised higher than if the plants were growing in their natural environment. The plants seem to fare better this way. Lithops Here are Lithops in various stages of flowering. The daisy-like flower emerges from between the two leaves. Here you can see plants with unopened flower buds, blooming, with spent flowers and with fruit developing. Care of Lithops Water plants when there are no new leaves emerging and the plant body shrivels slightly. Lithops are generally watered most frequently during spring and again in fall, when they usually flower. Sometimes only a light misting is needed at other times, if the plant body shrivels a lot. Temperatures should remain above freezing, light should be bright and usually indirect (they can burn in bright sunlight) and soil must be extremely well drained! Split Rocks (Pleiospilos species) Another rock “mimic”. This particular plant is about 6 x 2 inches long by 3 inches tall. This is Pleiospilos canus. By the way, all of the plants in this presentation are in the family Aizoaceae, which is the “iceplant” family. They are all related to the “freeway” iceplant that is commonly grown in southern and central California. This iceplant, like all the other plants in this presentation, originate from Africa. More split rocks This is Pleiospilos nellii, a more rounded split rock than the previous P. canus. This plant is about 4 inches by 2 inches wide, and 2 inches tall. Other mimics Conophytum species Leaves about 3/4 inch long Aloinopsis schoonesii Leaves about 1/4 inch long More mimics In the wild, these plants would be buried up to their “windows”, so they would appear as little pebbles on the ground. The leaves are 1-2 inches long. Fenestraria rhopalophylla, baby’s toes More mimics Titanopsis hugoschlecteri Leaves about 1 inch long More mimics Another kind of mimic – this time imitating open jaws with sharp teeth! Faucaria brittaniae, tiger jaws Leaves about 1.5 inches long Care of plants (in containers) 1) Allow soil to dry between waterings 2) Plants like Lithops and Conophytum should not be watered when new leaves are emerging and old leaves are drying up, but can water for Pleiospilos. 3) Water minimally during cold, winter months 4) Protect from freezing 5) Bright, indirect light best for most 6) Well-drained soil mandatory 7) Fertilization – once per month during growing seasons, half strength houseplant fertilizer Stomatum species The End! Conophytum species Deborah Ellis, MS. Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Saratoga, California, March 2009 Email: [email protected]. Web site: www.http://decah.com