Lithops karasmontanaN.E.Br .

Karas Mountains Living Stone

Lithops karasmontanavar.karasmontana , Mesembryanthemum karasmontanum

Lithops karasmontana - Karas Mountains Living Stone

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Family : AizoaceaeSubfamily : RuschioideaeTribe : RuschieaeGenus : Lithops

The specific epithet " karasmontana(kar - as - MON - tan - uh ) " pertain to theGreat Karas Mountainsin the Karas Region of southern Namibia , the juiceless part of the country .

Lithops karasmontanais native toNamibia .

Lithops karasmontana - Karas Mountains Living Stone

Lithops karasmontanais a dwarf clump - formingsucculentwith bodies consisting of pairs of   dense fleshy leaves fused in an inverted strobile with a centralfissuredividing them . The bodies can get up to 2 inches ( 4 atomic number 96 ) tall . They are grey with brown mottling on the upper Earth’s surface . The face is kidney - shaped , monotone to slightly convex , and can reach up to 1.4 inch ( 3.5 cm ) in duration and 1.1 inches ( 2.8 cm ) in width .

The white prime appear in fall from the fissure between the leaf . The can reach up to 1.8 inches ( 4.5 atomic number 96 ) in diameter . The fruits are usually 5 - chambered capsules with chicken - browned semen inside .

USDA hardiness zones9b to 11b : from 325 ° F ( −3.9 ° C ) to 50 ° F ( +10 ° C ) .

Lithops karasmontana - Karas Mountains Living Stone

These plants develop a young set of folio every year , with new leaves emerging in the dip and develop through the wintertime and summertime . Lithopsare inactive in tardy summertime , and piss should be severely qualify to prevent bursting leaves . The flowers appear near the end of summertime or dip , first as a small bud force its manner between the leaves , and increase will begin again . It ’s safe towaterduring this period . The parting will still grow in the wintertime , but you should stop watering , even as the older leaf shrivel and encase the new growth . In the spring , it ’s safe to begin lightly watering again as the plant begins to develop again , heading toward its summertime dormancy period and the emergence of new leaves in the fall .

Lithopsare very slowly - growing , small plants , making them ideal ashouseplants(once you get the hang of their tearing agenda ) . Older plants form attractive clumps of " pebbles " in their pots , which are extremely prized . In general , plants should only be repot if there are cultural problems ( sloughy grunge ) or the plant life has outgrown its dish container , which will only bechance every several years .

Learn more atHow to Grow and Care for Lithops .

Lithops karasmontana - Karas Mountains Living Stone

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