Living stone
Living stones are an example of plants that protect themselves by mimicking their surroundings.
The plant has one to two pairs of thick, water-filled leaves that grow opposite each other on the stem. Often, most of the leaves are hidden beneath the soil, and the visible part looks like a small stone.
On the upper side of the leaves, you can see a number of small dark spots. These are transparent areas, so-called "leaf windows," that allow light to penetrate deep into the leaf, where photosynthesis takes place.
Living stones grow very slowly, and usually only a single pair of leaves is formed each year.
Fact box:
- Greenhouse location: Desert House
- Danish name: Levende sten
- Latin name: Lithops
- Family: Ice plant family / Aizoaceae
- Natural habitat: Southern Africa