Rocks That Grow Flowers

split-rock.jpgThis is a Split Rock succulent. It’s related to the lithops (living stones) succulents – both are native to South Africa. Pleiospilos nelii is the scientific name for this interesting little plant. Living stones mimic their natural surroundings to an astounding degree – they evolved to resemble smooth rocks – presumably to avoid detection by herbivorous predators.

Because of their compactness, drought tolerance and low maintenance, living stones have become very popular as houseplants and garden accents. The split rock, shown in the photo to the right, lives on the patio and is currently producing its annual flowers. Click on the thumbnail photo to see the full-sized image.

Below is a close-up photo of the beautiful flower as it opens to gather sunlight. Click the image for the 1024×717 pixel close-up.

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