Pseudolithos MIGIURTINUS

Pseudolithos MIGIURTINUS - Pseudolithos migiurtinus.

'Living stones' seed series.

Rare COLLECTIBLE plant for true connoisseurs.

Pseudolithos ('pseudo' - false, 'lithos' - stone) is a genus of unusual-looking plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), subfamily Asclepiadoideae, consisting of 8 species native to Yemen and Oman in the south of the Arabian Peninsula and Sudan and Somalia in eastern Africa. Representatives of the genus were first described by Swiss botanist Peter Bally in the first half of the 20th century.

A very unusual plant resembling stones with its leafless spherical tuberculate stems, the color of which varies depending on lighting from light green to reddish-brown, more rarely silvery or pink. Fast-growing stems of some species have a cubic shape with distinct edges. It can grow as a single stem up to 15 cm (6 in) tall and about 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, or in the form of a clump. It blooms from late summer to mid-autumn, producing short peduncles from the lateral surface of the stem bearing inflorescences of 5-10 small greenish, pink, burgundy, or brown flowers about 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter. The villous petals often have yellow speckling and tufts at the tips. In contrast to their attractive appearance, the flowers of many species have an unpleasant smell of decomposition that attracts pollinating flies. It fruits with pods containing 15-20 seeds, which germinate relatively well.

Pseudolithos migiurtinus is a miniature species of one of the most popular succulents, possessing a cylindrical tuberculate solitary yellow-green stem reaching 9 cm (3.5 in) in diameter. With age, it forms lateral shoots that never reach the size of the main stem. The color and texture of the ochre skin of the plant make it look like a stone. It blooms with typical for the genus multiple inflorescences of brown or brownish-purple flowers with villous petals speckled with yellow. It fruits with paired light-green pods containing 30 to 80 brown seeds.

By seed propagation and cuttings. For species with solitary stems, seed propagation is the only possible method.

Seeds are preliminarily soaked for 6 hours in a bright solution of potassium permanganate, then for another 12-20 hours in water with the addition of growth stimulants (Zircon, Epin). A sowing mixture of equal parts cactus soil and coarse sand with the addition of vermiculite, charcoal, or crushed brick is preliminarily heat-treated in an oven for 1 hour. Seeds are sown on the surface with the pointed tip into the substrate. They are moistened with a spray bottle, covered with glass or film, and germinated in the light at a temperature of 25-30 °C (77-86 °F). Seedlings need ventilation. Overwatering and drying out of the sowings must be avoided.

Seedlings appear on days 3-14 and are kept under cover for up to 3 weeks. In the fourth week, characteristic wrinkles appear on the seedlings. For species with solitary stems, seed propagation is the only possible method.

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Bright diffused light is required, with light shading from direct sunlight on hot summer days. From excess light the stems take on a purple tint, while from insufficient light they weaken, and the plant stops flowering. It requires a constant supply of fresh air, but does not tolerate cold drafts. In summer it is grown at a temperature of 25-30 °C (77-86 °F); with constant ventilation it tolerates heat up to 45 °C (113 °F); in winter the optimal temperature is 18-20 °C (64-68 °F), and the temperature should not be allowed to drop below 15 °C (59 °F).

It requires well-drained, nutrient-poor soil with a high content of perlite or sand. A mixture of 2 parts perlite, 1 part peat, and 1 part sand can be used. It tolerates poor soils. The roots of the plant are very sensitive to overwatering and drought, rotting when care conditions are violated. Watering is carried out carefully during the plant's growing season as the soil dries out completely. It does not need spraying. It is fed once a month in spring and summer with a twofold diluted liquid fertilizer low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus. It is repotted once every 2 years to refresh the soil into a container of the same size.