Lithops karasmontana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lithops karasmontana | |
|---|---|
![](#/media/File:Lithops_karasmontana_"opalina".jpg) | |
| L. karasmontana "Opalina" | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Genus: | Lithops |
| Species: | L. karasmontana |
| Binomial name | |
| Lithops karasmontana | |
Lithops karasmontana, is a species of flowering plant in the ice plant family Aizoaceae, native to Namibia and South Africa (the name refers to the Great Karas Mountains of Namibia).
It is a clump-forming succulent growing to 4 cm (2 in) high and spreading. The almost stemless leaves appear in pairs, and resemble two grey stones with brown mottling on the flat surfaces. White, narrow-rayed flowers 3–4 cm (1–2 in) in diameter, appear in autumn.[2]
Lithops karasmontana resists attacks from herbivorous predators by mimicking the local stone formations, in this case quartzite. When not in flower it is extremely difficult to detect.[3]
L. karasmontana is generally treated as having two subspecies bella and eberlanzii, as well as ssp. karasmontana,[4] although one modern paper raises the two subspecies to species level on the basis of seed morphology.[5] Ssp. bella is distinguished by its relatively uniform appearance with beige colouring and darker windows. It often forms very large clumps with up to 60 heads. Ssp. eberlanzii is much more variable in appearance, with colours and markings similar to ssp. karasmontana, but it is generally smaller, softer, and more convex.[4]
Four varieties are also recognised: var. aiaisensis with creamy pinkish colouring, relative or complete lack of markings, and fairly smooth leaves; var. immaculata with almost unmarked beige leaves;[6] var. lericheana with wide channels and greenish colouring; and var. tischeri with convex leaf tops and reddish colouring.[4] Many older names are now sunk as synonyms in this highly variable species.[7]
