These Plants Have Emerged into Stones To Avoid Predators

These Plants Have Emerged into Stones To Avoid Predators:

Being a plant is tough. There’s a countless number of threats and very little that the plants can do about it. Apart from having some sort of defense mechanism, which only a few plants do they just have to accept their fate. There is no fighting back or running to the plants, so what should they do? A particular plant in South Africa has evolved in such a unique way that it prevents it from being seen even by greasers and other animals, otherwise it can be killed or eaten. No, this is not an invisible dress; It is a rock.

Lithops

Lithops is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. Members of the genus are native to southern Africa. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words λίθος (lithos), meaning “stone,” and ὄψ (ops), meaning “face,” referring to the stone-like appearance of the plants. They avoid being eaten by blending in with surrounding rocks and are often known as pebble plants or living stones. The formation of the name from the Greek “-ops” means that even a single plant is called a Lithops.

These Plants Have Emerged into Stones To Avoid Predators

So why did they develop this amazing camouflage? Well, in the wild, Lithops inhabit vast dry regions of South Africa, where there’s little rain and can be none for months. Just like a cactus, they survive due to their capacity to store water for long periods of time.

The leaves are thick enough to save sufficient water for the plants to survive without rain for several weeks. However, this makes them very affectionate of eating. The most delicious and water-rich in South Africa is the most attractive quality, which is why they “disappear” from predators.

In addition to this, thanks to the fact that they thrive in low humidity and need infrequent watering and care, Lithops make great houseplants. They need good sunlight and they take care of the rest. Although they take three to five years to bloom, they are still beautiful but inhabit an elaborate rock.

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