Lithops - Living stones

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Lithops - Living Stones collection

100 seeds mixed assortment

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Commonly known as 'living stones' or 'pebble plants', the genus of plants called Lithops is one of the most popular among collectors of cacti and succulents. As they learn more about their new pastime, it's common for growers take a shine to one or two particular types of cactus or succulent, specialising in these plants and making them the focus of their collection. Lithops is one of the most frequently chosen genera in this respect.

They're called living stones because in their natural habitat they have evolved to mimic the stones and pebbles which often litter the ground where they grow. As stones can be different colours, so are Lithops. The hues and patterns produced by these plants is astonishing. The reason they have developed this ability to look like stones is really very obvious. There are many small mammals which share the same arid habitat as Lithops - animals which would be only too glad to bite into the juicy leaf of a succulent and quench their thirst on the abundant liquid therein. The thick skin of the top of a Lithops leaf is also a deterrent to most insects.

Although commonly called living stones, Lithops have been known by other names. Local Afrikaaners called them beeskloutjies - or 'cattle hoof,' and skaappootjies - 'sheep hoof,' and they have also been called 'belly plants', presumably because you have to crawl on your belly in order to find them! In Namibia they are sometimes known as ombuma yombwa or dog testicles