Lithop is commonly called "Living Stones" or "flowering stones" because its shape, size and color causes Lithop to resemble small stones in their natural surroundings. The plants blend in among the stones as a means of protection. Grazing animals which would otherwise eat them during periods of drought to obtain moisture usually overlook it.
The origin of Lithop is in South Africa where the plants receive less than 2 inches of rainfall per month throughout the entire year.The "body" of the plant is divided into two succulent leaves fused together in the shape of an inverted cone. The fissure or slit at the top of the plant is the division of the two leaves. There is no stem as such, but rather the taproot joins abruptly at the base of the leaves.
Lithops do well if they receive about 4 or 5 hours of direct (or only slightly filtered) sunlight during the early part of the day, and partial shade during the afternoon.
he majority of lithops produce their flowers during autumn and early winter. They are daisy-like and yellow or white depending on variety. They first open during the afternoons of sunnier days.
