Oophytum nanum – Living Stones Seed x20

This plant is native to Namaqualand, South Africa.  It is a quartz lover and is found growing on big outcrops of quartz and commonly on quartz plains. The quartz pebbles protect the plants from the fierce summer sun by reflecting a great deal of light and heat. Each species is found in a small area of habitat that does not encroach on others. These habitats are so specialised that Oophytum does not naturalize outside their chosen area.

Individual plants consist of one pair of oval, bulbous, fused, leaves and almost no stem. The crease between the leaves contains the growing and flowering point from which new leaves and flowers emerge. The top surface of the leaves has a translucent ‘window’ which allows sunlight to enter for photosynthesis. Leaf colour is a milky green to purplish-brown depending on the season and the flower is a bright buttercup yellow.