Residents of the Namib desert #2 Photo

Photographer’s Note

Residents of the Namib desert: Lithops - living pebbles; rocky desert, not far from Swakopmund.

Lithops is a genus of succulent plants native to Africa, mainly in Namibia and South Africa. It is especially characteristic of the Karoo region at Africa's southern tip. The word "lithos" is Greek and means "stone". "Lithops" means "stone-like". This is a very good description of these plants, which avoid being eaten by blending in with surrounding pebbles (camouflage). They are often known as pebble plants or living stones. First description of lithops was made by William John Burchell, explorer of South Africa, botanist and artist, who in 1811 accidentally found a specimen when picking up from the ground a "colorful pebble".

Individual plants usually have two bulbous, almost fused leaves opposite to each other and hardly any stem. The slit between the leaves contains the meristem and produces flowers and new leaves. Old leaves die after the new pair has emerged. Occasionally two new pairs emerge and plants can eventually form large clumps. The plant is almost entirely buried in soil, only exposing the flat upper surfaces of leaves. This is an adaptation to the dry, hot environment.
after Wikipedia

Paul65, emka, ivarlein, arturski, Dpbours, amcolli has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

emka (22357) 2008-02-06 12:03

Witaj,

Bardzo ciekawe są te żywe kamienie. W miniaturze trudno się zorientować o co chodzi, a w powiekszeniu też nie od razu, tak ten kamuflaż jest doskonały. Niesłychane jak rośliny i zwierzęta bronią się przed zjedzeniem. Dobra ostrość i kadr - grupka żywych kamieni otoczona zwykłymi. Interesująca notatka.

Pozdrawiam

Małgorzata

Fis2 (46429) 2008-02-06 12:52

Witaj Andrzejku!
"Zywe kamienie" to dopiero dla mnie gratka wsrod ciekawostek, ktore serwujesz. Powiem Ci szczerze widze po raz pierwszy, robia wrazenie. Ladny kadr i afrykanska kolorystyka.
Pozdrawiam
Krzysztof

arturski (4444) 2008-02-06 14:25

Czesc Andrzej!

Cos niesamowitego , pierwszy raz cos takiego widze , swiete sa te "kamienie "niesamowita inteligencja jest w tych roslinach .
Swietna notka.

Pozdrawiam,
Artur

tedesse (13226) 2008-02-06 17:09

Witaj!
Fantastyczny kadr w piêknych kolorach i dobrej ostro¶ci.
Ciekawa notka.
Pozdrawiam Tadeusz

Dpbours (220) 2008-02-07 5:12

Hi Andrzej,

You are joking! That is alive?! Wow, talking about adapting to your environment... Just imagine how we will look in 100,000 years when adapting to our changing environment...
Interesting thought! ;-)

Greetings,
Dennis

mikeo (12117) 2008-02-07 10:05

O kurcze! Niezle!
Tutaj to juz sie nie podejmuje decydowac czy to model czy modelka:P Bardzo ciekawe, swietnie pokazane, swietna ostrosc, ladne kolorki...

Super!
Mikeo

sayat (2944) 2008-02-08 1:41

Excellent shot of this unusual plant! The sim light is very well balanced and the sharpness is excellent. Thanks for sharing.

Ber (7576) 2008-02-10 13:05

Mozna i u nas kupic sobie takie kamienie, fajna ciekawostka! Formy zyjace sa zadziwiajace ;)
Pozdrawiam

Paul65 (1402) 2008-02-11 6:32

Witaj Andrzej!
Niezwyk³e s± te twory natury. Bardzo ciekawa praca. Pokazuje sedno tej pustyni.
Gratulujê i pozdrawiam Pawe³.

char_mifsud (540) 2008-02-11 6:48

Hello Andrzej,
Excellent shot of this unusual plant! The light is very well balanced and the sharpness is excellent. Thanks for sharing. Well done.
Regards,
Charles
Malta

amcolli (569) 2008-02-15 13:12

hello Andrej. this is my first visit to your gallery , congratulations !
this i s avery intersting shot fo an interesting subject and a very useful note! bravo
a