Faucaria

   DESCRIPTION: F. tigrina, 3 in., from South Africa, has a low rosette of fleshy, triangular leaves, paired, and with teethlike structures along the edges, hence "tiger jaws." The gray-green leaves are heavily spotted with white. Flat, large, daisylike yellow flowers appear in the fall. F. tuberculosa is similar, but has dark-green, warty leaves and may be called "knobby tiger jaws."

   CULTURE: Light, sunny. Temperature, average house. Humidity, average house. Soil, 1 part peat, 1 part loam, 2 parts sand; or, 6 parts sand, 3 parts loam, 2 parts leaf mold, 1 part crushed brick; water thoroughly, and not again until growing medium is dry. Propagate by seeds sown in spring or fall; by cuttings taken in May or June, first dried, then rooted in barely moist sand.

   Fenestraria

   DESCRIPTION: F. aurantiaca (yellow flowers) and F. rhopalophylla (white flowers), are miniature succulents 1 to 2 in. tall from South Africa. They form clusters of toelike leaves, hence "baby toes." The translucent area at the top of each is called a "window."

   CULTURE: AS for Faucaria.

   Lampranthus

   DESCRIPTION: L. emarginatus, 1 ft., from South Africa, has very narrow leaves, attractively set off in summer with many purple, daisylike flowers. Often called "ice plant." L. multi-radiatus, also from South Africa, is more trailing in habit, to 2 ft. when allowed to cascade from a basket or shelf. It has 2-in. pink flowers.

   CULTURE: Light, sunny. Temperature, average house. Humidity, average house. Soil, equal parts crushed bricks or broken clay pots, loam, leaf mold, and sand; keep evenly moist in summer, on the dry side in winter. Propagate by seeds or cuttings from March to September. Lampranthus may be used outdoors in warm weather as a bedding plant in sun.

   Lithops

   DESCRIPTION: This is a large genus of small South African plants which consist of a pair of close-set, fleshy leaves separated by a cleft. The common names "stone face" and "living stone" come from their uncanny resemblance to a small, split rock. In autumn they may produce yellow, white, or orange blossoms larger than the leaves. After flowering the plants become dormant, looking quite dead until they break open to show two new leaves.

   CULTURE: Light, sunny. Temperature, average house. Humidity, average house. Soil, 6 parts sand, 4 parts loam, 1 part finely crushed brick; keep evenly moist May to November, dry balance of year. Propagate by seeds sown in moist atmosphere at 55-60 °F. in spring. When transplanting lithops, bury one fourth of the plant body.

   Amaranthaceae

   Tender annuals and perennials, often with highly colored foliage, or showy flower heads. Two perennials are of interest to the indoor gardener, Alternan-thera and Iresine.