''Lapidaria'' is a monotypic genus of dwarf succulent plants in the family
Aizoaceae
The Aizoaceae (), or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1,800 species. Several genera are commonly known as 'ice plants' or 'carpet weeds'. The Aizoaceae are also referred to a ...
. The only species it contains is ''Lapidaria margaretae'', also known as the Karoo rose.
Description
''Lapidaria margaretae'' resembles those genera within the family Aizoaceae to which it is most closely related; namely ''
Lithops
''Lithops'' is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. Members of the genus are native to southern Africa. They avoid being eaten by herbivores with their camouflage as small stones, and are often known as pebble plants ...
'', ''
Dinteranthus'' and ''
Schwantesia
''Schwantesia'' is a genus of plant in the family Aizoaceae
The Aizoaceae (), or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1,800 species. Several genera are commonly known as 'ice ...
''. However, while ''Lithops'' and ''Dinteranthus'' will typically only have one pair of leaves, ''L. margaretae'' has two to four pairs of leaves. Each leaf is 1.5–2 cm long and 1 cm wide. Clumps of up to three heads may be formed with age.
[
The plant is mostly dormant during the hot summer and cold winter, only growing during the spring and autumn, with flowering occurring in the latter, or in early winter.]sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106
Etymology
The term ''sepalum'' ...
s, up to around 100 petal
Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...
s and 300–500 stamen
The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...
s. It opens during the day. The flowering might be solitary, or succeeded by up to two others.[
]
Distribution
This species is native to dry areas (250 mm per year) in southern Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country on the west coast of Southern Africa. Its borders include the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south; in the no ...
, around Warmbad and the Northern Cape areas adjacent to Warmbad in South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
, at an elevation of above sea level.
Habitat
''Lapidaria margaretae'' grows on white quartz plains, in crevices, in red sand or on loose stone. It is usually located on Northeast-facing gentle hill slope in full sun, or under dwarf shrub in a succulent steppe. It often grows near other stone-like succulents, such as ''Lithops'' species.
Cultivation
Even though there are no commercial uses for ''L. margaretae'', it is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant. They need full bright sunlight throughout the year and will grow at any time when the weather is warm and sunny and water is available. Plants are frost tolerant to .
References
Sources
* ''Southern African Wild Flowers: Jewels of the Veld'' page 160–161
SIBIS: Lapidaria margaretea
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q140257, from2=Q15709655
Aizoaceae