Kingdom Plantae Family Aizoaceae Scientific name Lithops optica | Order Caryophyllales Genus Lithops Rank Species | |
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Similar Lithops karasmontana, Lithops pseudotruncatella, Lithops dorotheae, Lithops lesliei, Lithops fulviceps | ||
Lithops optica cv rubra c287 2nd set of leaves already
Lithops optica is a species of plant in the Aizoaceae family, endemic to Namibia.
Contents
Lithops optica cv rubra c287 update and time lapse
Name and description
The name "optica" means "eye-like" and refers to the rounded windows at the top of the leaves. In habitat, these two leaves emerge just above the surface of the ground.
The well-known and widely cultivated "rubra" variety is a bright purple/red colour. While most specimens of Lithops optica do not have this colour, the "rubra" variety is by far the most commonly cultivated.
Distribution
This species occurs in the coastal areas around Lüderitz, Namibia. This is a very arid "mist-belt" area, with winter rainfall but extremely dry conditions. It is therefore one of the few species of Lithops which is adapted to a winter rainfall climate. Its natural habitat is sandy soil in rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Cultivation
Like all Lithops, it requires extremely well-drained soil. Like all Lithops it also grows in annual cycles, as the leaf-pairs flower, and then each produces a new leaf-pair that replaces the old one (which shrivels away). The principal rule of watering is that Lithops should be kept dry from when they finish flowering, up until the old leaf-pairs are fully replaced.
