An individual Lithops plant consists of 2 succulent leaves attached at the outer edges and containing a fissure between them. The 2 leaves are fused below the fissure. Above the leaves junction with the rootstock is an internal meristem(new body).
Once a year, one (or more-See section on Head Multiplication) new bodies develop from the meristem.
After flowering, the plant enters a dormancy period. Now the new leaves take nourishment from the old leaves and when this happens the new body gradually starts to push its way out of the fissure.
New bodies emerging from old
Eventually all that is left of the old leaves are dry skins on the sides of the new bodies. The fissure of the new leaves is approximately 90 degrees to the old fissure.
A simple illustration of the process
Over-watering and excessive shade often causes the old body to NOT dry up and wither, but remain on the side of the head(s) of the new generation.
Photo of old lobe retained (on right side) next to new generation's lobes
This is not a form of head multiplication but rather a freak resulting from unnatural conditions. This is only known to occur naturally in L.optica. It has been our experience in these cases that before the new head(s) emerge, part of the old head can be removed with a sharp knife. This allows the new bodies to extract all the nutrients from the old head and within a few weeks you have a normal plant once again.
We do not recommend this practice unless you are sure of not harming the meristem (new body).

This page hosted byGet your own Free Home Page