There are plants that do not need to hide among the stones: they have learned to resemble them. The Lithops and their relatives belong to the Aizoaceae, a huge family from southern Africa with more than a hundred genera and nearly 2,000 species. Their mimetic shapes protect them from the sun, drought, and herbivores. Their growth cycles vary depending on where they come from: some grow in winter, others in spring or autumn. Potassium helps maintain their turgidity. And, with dry feet, some surprise with their cold resistance.
There are plants that do not need to hide among the stones: they have learned to resemble them. The Lithops and their relatives belong to the Aizoaceae, a huge family from southern Africa with more than a hundred genera and nearly 2,000 species. Their mimetic shapes protect them from the sun, drought, and herbivores. Their growth cycles vary depending on where they come from: some grow in winter, others in spring or autumn. Potassium helps maintain their turgidity. And, with dry feet, some surprise with their cold resistance.
