# Lithops

Lithops, also known as Living Stones, look just like little rocks! They are fascinating plants that blend in with their surroundings.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Deserts
- **Also known as:** Living Stones, Stone Plants

![Lithops](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426834/objects/5006.jpg)

## Appearance

The Lithops has a unique appearance, closely resembling small, colourful pebbles or stones. It typically consists of two thick, fused leaves with a flat or slightly rounded top surface, often marked with intricate patterns, spots, or translucent 'windows' in shades of grey, brown, green, or reddish hues.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Aizoaceae
- **Genus:** Lithops

## Interesting facts

- Each year, a new pair of leaves grows right inside the old leaves!
- Lithops means 'stone face' because they look exactly like colourful pebbles!
- Many Lithops flowers open in the afternoon and close at sunset!
- They can live for more than 50 years in their super dry desert homes!

## Special abilities

- **Master of Disguise:** Lithops can perfectly mimic surrounding rocks and pebbles, helping them survive by hiding from hungry animals.
- **Desert Drinker:** Lithops has thick, fleshy leaves that store water, helping it survive long periods of drought in dry deserts.
- **Light Trap:** Lithops has special translucent 'windows' on its top surface that let sunlight reach deeper into the plant for photosynthesis.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 1-5 cm
- **Spread:** 1-5 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1.5-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late summer to autumn
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Carries pollen between Lithops flowers.
- **Symbiotic with:** Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (*Rhizophagus irregularis*) — Helps Lithops roots absorb water and nutrients.
- **Eats:** Namaqua rock mouse (*Aethomys namaquensis*) — May nibble on soft plant tissues or seeds.

## Traits

- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
- [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Lithops?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lithops?

1-5 cm

### How wide does Lithops spread?

1-5 cm

### How big are the flowers on Lithops?

1.5-3 cm

### When does Lithops bloom?

Late summer to autumn

### Is Lithops edible?

No

### Is Lithops toxic?

None

### What is Lithops's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Lithops: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lithops)