Emergence: split rocks dividing
When split rocks and stone plants divide, the two halves separate and new leaves grow up through the centre. Split rocks are very well camouflaged in their native environment and the leaf surfaces are slightly lumpy, making this yet another sci-fi plant. Camouflage prevents the plant from being eaten by grazing buck, which have poor eyesight when it comes to detecting detail, but are very good at sensing motion. They also grow in among lerger stones, which prevents them being trampled.
The plants pictured here are Pleiospilus nelli and when the new leaves emerge in autumn, the old leaves remain, although many others absorb the older set of leaves so that only the most recent two remain. The plant below has a seed pod from an old flower remaining. They can be a little difficult to grow as they will rot if they are given water in colder weather and don't like much water when it is hot either. If you give them too little water, they refuse to flower, so it is a delicate balancing act.
Amazing!!! I never heard of or saw a plant that looks like a rock, much less a split rock with another inside. Very cool
This is the most crazy looking plant I have ever seen, wow.
Another beautiful example.
It has a good survival strategy.
Greetings and have a nice afternoon, @nikv.
Where are these plants native too? Awesome. Thanks for sharing. I love succulents.
They are native to South Africa
I love these, but they are so picky!
We had few but they all decided to die all the sudden. Only one stubborn left.
Power to the stubborn one!
Wow these are my favourite, so unusual.
I can't stop looking at them they are fascinating, I would love too get hold of some.
What colour is the flower, do you know?
The flowers are orange, you can see them here http://pza.sanbi.org/pleiospilos-nelii
I'm sure you'll find one
This is something unusual. It looks so interesting.
The one on the second photo looks so nice and healthy!
My one is growing those new leaves now :p (it is spring here). As long as it doesn't die I don't care when it grows. :)
Many succulents are known for keeping African time, even when they are grown in the Northern hemisphere
Geez, they really do look like rocks lol. That is crazy to look at, a little hard to get my head around the fact that it is a plant. Look at how flat the split part is. I think that part makes it hard to believe it is real.
Camouflage!
Very amazing