Aizoaceae

This family gathers more than 100 different genera, the most known of them are Mesembryanthemum, Carpobrotus… and Lithops, which are commonly called "stone plants". This calling gathers genera coming from South Africa (Conophytum, Lithops, Fenestraria, Argyroderma…) that have similar characteristics. Lithops have no stem but are made of two leaves that united in a conic body with a central slit and two lateral lobs. Each year a flower and a new growth appear in the slit.

Their natural environments are the deserts of South Africa where they grow between sand and stones that look like them. Even the etymology of their name reminds us their particular shape (in greek "lithos" means "stone"). These plants need to be in a very sunny place and a draining substratum and to have a rest during winter.