Accepted Scientific Name: Lithops aucampiae
S. African Gard. 22: 276, 306. 1932 [Nov. 1932]
Lithops aucampiae C012 (Kuruman Form) 10 km E of Kuruman, South Africa Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: 10 km East of Kuruman, South Africa
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Lithops aucampiae
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Lithops aucampiae L. BolusS. African Gard. 22: 276, 306. 1932 [Nov. 1932]Synonymy: 25
- Lithops aucampiae L. Bolus
- Lithops aucampiae C002 Near Danielskuil, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C003 10 km SE of Postmasburg, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C004 5 km N of Postmasburg, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C005 (Warrenton Form) Near Warrenton, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C011 (Kuruman Form) 5 km SW of Kuruman, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C012 (Kuruman Form) 10 km E of Kuruman, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C046 5 km NE of Griquatown, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C061 70 km WSW of Vryburg, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C117 45 km NW of Griquatown, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C172 5 km W of Sishen, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C173 (Kuruman Form) 60 km SE of Kuruman, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C255 TL: 15 km NNW of Postmasburg, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C257 40 km W of Postmasburg, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C298 Near Severn, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C325 (Kuruman Form) 10 km W of Reivilo, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C332 (Kuruman Form) 5 km NE of Kuruman, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C333 Near Griquatown, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C334 15 km NNE of Olifantshoek, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C366 Near Danielskuil, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae var. koelemanii (de Boer) D.T.Cole
- Lithops aucampiae var. koelemanii C016 TL: 35 km NW of Postmasburg, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae var. koelemanii C256 35 km WSW of Postmasburg, South Africa
Accepted name in llifle Database:Lithops aucampiae subs. euniceae (de Boer) D.T.ColeLithops Flowering Stones 220 (1988)Synonymy: 6
Cultivars
(6):
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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Stone Plant, Living Stones
Description: Lithops aucampiae is a tiny caespitose succulent that grows almost completely buried in reddish soil with only the upper truncated portion of leaves visible. With age it may form small clusters of up to 12 or more, bodies (mostly 2-5). It is very variable with brown-red bodies with intricate brown patterns, but conforms to the typical Lithops morphology: two thick, fleshy windowed leaves separated by a crack from which a yellow flower appears. The windowed part allows light into the inner portion of the leaf where the process of photosynthesis is carried out.
Bodies (Paired leaves): Medium to very large 25-55 mm x 20-40 mm across, obconical (upside down cone-shaped) upper surface truncate, smooth to slightly rugose, mostly slightly convex. Lobes often unequal conjunct with a shallow fissure between. Face elliptic-reniform. Margins irregularly indented with many peninsulas, yellowish to reddish brown, often more intensely coloured than the islands. Windows yellowish to dark reddish brown, usually with fine irregularly branched lines becoming gradually narrower toward the margins. Channels asymmetrical varying in size yellowish to brown, sometimes very dark. Islands usually clearly defined, very irregular, sometimes slightly in relief. Rubrications absent. Dusky dots dark greenish grey, variable in number, in the channels and small islands, but usually not evident. Shoulders whitish-violaceous, pinkish-grey or brownish.
Flowers: Daisy-like, bright yellow up to 52 mm in diameter.
Fruits: Capsule mostly 6-chambered (otherwise 5 to 8-chambered). This capsule only opens when moistened, exposing the tiny seeds. In nature, falling rain drops splash out the seeds to a distance of a few centimetres to up to a metre or more from the parent plant. After the capsule dries up it closes again, protecting any seeds left behind.
Seeds: Tiny, light brown to brown.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Lithops aucampiae group
- Lithops aucampiae L. Bolus: It has fine brown patterns on large grey to lawn leaves that merge it with the reddish soil where it grows almost completely buried.
- Lithops aucampiae C002 Near Danielskuil, South Africa: rusty pink, dark jagged window.
- Lithops aucampiae C003 10 km SE of Postmasburg, South Africa: pattern with sharp lines.
- Lithops aucampiae C004 5 km N of Postmasburg, South Africa: dark rusty brown pattern.
- Lithops aucampiae C005 (Warrenton Form) Near Warrenton, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C011 (Kuruman Form) 5 km SW of Kuruman, South Africa: wide dark brown windows.
- Lithops aucampiae C012 (Kuruman Form) 10 km E of Kuruman, South Africa: striking bitter chocolate.
- Lithops aucampiae C046 5 km NE of Griquatown, South Africa: special texture, very pretty.
- Lithops aucampiae C061 70 km WSW of Vryburg, South Africa: rusty brown, dark brown pattern.
- Lithops aucampiae C117 45 km NW of Griquatown, South Africa: red grey, bright red lines.
- Lithops aucampiae C172 5 km W of Sishen, South Africa: rusty brown color.
- Lithops aucampiae C173 (Kuruman Form) 60 km SE of Kuruman, South Africa: robust.
- Lithops aucampiae C255 TL: 15 km NNW of Postmasburg, South Africa: pale brown markings.
- Lithops aucampiae C257 40 km W of Postmasburg, South Africa: large reddish windows.
- Lithops aucampiae C298 Near Severn, South Africa
- Lithops aucampiae C325 (Kuruman Form) 10 km W of Reivilo, South Africa: big brown window.
- Lithops aucampiae C332 (Kuruman Form) 5 km NE of Kuruman, South Africa: good dark windows.
- Lithops aucampiae C333 Near Griquatown, South Africa: rich chocolate tops.
- Lithops aucampiae C334 15 km NNE of Olifantshoek, South Africa: reddish brown tops.
- Lithops aucampiae C366 Near Danielskuil, South Africa: cocoa-red.
- Lithops aucampiae C389 cv. Betty’s Beryl: has light garish green body and white flowers.
- Lithops aucampiae C392 (North or North-West Cape, South Africa) cv. Storms’s Snowcap: shiny white flowering.
- Lithops aucampiae C395 cv. Jackson’s Jade D.T.Cole: has distinctively green or yellow-green bodies na yellow flowers. It is equivalent to a yellow-flowered 'Betty's Beryl'.
- Lithops aucampiae subs. euniceae (de Boer) D.T.Cole: Relatively uniform and easily recognizable by its very characteristic marginal pattern and markings. It slowly clumps forming cluster up to 200 mm in diameter, with up to 10 or more heads (but usually 2-4)
- Lithops aucampiae subs. euniceae C048 TL: 15 km N of Hopetown, South Africa: has reddish brown, never grey, kilroyesque margins.
- Lithops aucampiae subs. euniceae var. fluminalis D.T.Cole: It is an exquisite “grey form” distiguishable from the veuniceaeceae for the finer and more numerous finger-like projections and marking on the margin and for the dark-grey overall colour.
- Lithops aucampiae subs. euniceae var. fluminalis C054 TL: Near Hopetown, South Africa: finely incised marginalia.
- Lithops aucampiae subs. euniceae var. fluminalis cv. Green River
- Lithops aucampiae subs. euniceae cv. Bellaketty
- Lithops aucampiae subs. euniceae cv. Hikoruby
- Lithops aucampiae var. koelemanii (de Boer) D.T.Cole: In the variety koelemanii the window and the groove are reduced.
- Lithops aucampiae var. koelemanii C016 TL: 35 km NW of Postmasburg, South Africa: red network, matte surface.
- Lithops aucampiae var. koelemanii C256 35 km WSW of Postmasburg, South Africa
Notes: Lithops are partly subterranean, with only the clear 'window' in each leaf tip exposed above soil. A type of optical system exists whereby a layer of apical tissue rich in calcium oxalate crystals acts as a filter to intense sunlight before it reaches the thin chlorophyllous layer below. They are also called mimicry plants as they show a striking similarity to their background rocks and are difficult to detect when not in flower. These are the commonly known as pebble plants or living stones; each species is associated with one particular type of rock formation and occurs nowhere else. Its soil-embedded, subterranean growth form also reduces the need for chemical defences against herbivores.
Bibliography: Major refences and further lectures
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann (2002) “Aizoaceae F – Z” Springer
2) Achim Hecktheuer (2008) “Mesembs, mehr als nur Lithops” Books on Demand GmbH Norderstedt. ISBN-13 978-3-8370-1724-3
3) Desmond T. Cole & Naureen A. Cole, Uwe Beyer, Yves Delange (2008) “Les Lithops” SUCCULENTES Spécial 2008 AIAPS (now Terra seca). ISSN 0258-5359
4) Desmond T. Cole & Naureen A. Cole (2005) “LITHOPS Flowering Stones” Cactus & Co. Libri. ISBN 88-900511-7-5 ISBN-13 978-88-900511-7-3
5) Yasuhiko Shimada (2001) “The Genus Lithops” Dobun Shoin. ISBN 4-8103-4066-X
6) Rudolf Heine (1986) “Lithops - Lebende Steine” Neumann Verlag. ISBN 3-7402-0000-6; ISBN-13 978-3-7402-0000-8
7) Bernd Schlösser (2000) “Lithops – Lebende Steine” Praktische Anleitung für die Zimmerkultur. BussinessPoint MEDIA. ISBN 3-934945-01-5; ISBN-13 978-3-934945-01-2
8) Steven A. Hammer (1999) “Lithops – Treasures of the veld” British Cactus and Succulent Society. ISBN 0-902-099-64-7; ISBN-13 978-0-902099-64-7
9) Desmond T. Cole (1988) “Lithops – Flowering Stones” Acorn Books CC. ISBN 0-620-09678-0; ISBN-13 978-0-620-09678-2
10) Rudolf Heine (1986) “Lithops – lebende Steine” Neumann Verlag. ISBN 3-7402-0000-6; ISBN-13 978-3-7402-0000-8
11) David L. Sprechman (1970) “Lithops” Associated University Presses, Inc. SBN 8386-6902-6
12) Gert Cornelius Nel (1946) “Lithops” Hortors Limited, South Africa
13) Edgar Lamb (1978) "The illustrated reference on cacti and other succulents" Blandford Press.
14) Mesa garden seed list. Belen. New mexico. USA
Lithops aucampiae C012 (Kuruman Form) 10 km E of Kuruman, South Africa Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Lithops aucampiae C012 (Kuruman Form) 10 km E of Kuruman, South Africa Photo by: Cactus Art Cultivation and Propagation: Need an open mineral, fast draining mix and the maximum amount of light you are able to give them. The basic cultivation routine is: Stop watering after flowering. Start watering after the old leaves completely dry. (Usually late March or Early April) Water freely during the growing season, soak the compost fully but allow it to dry out between waterings, no water when cold. Some growers fertilize frequently, some hardly ever. Keep them dry during the winter. Nearly all problems occur as a result of overwatering and poor ventilation especially when weather conditions are dull and cool or very humid. This plant is best for a well lit area (Bright shade to full sun). But don't be afraid even the best growers have plants that mysteriously dry up, or leave during the night.
Remarks: After flowering in the autumn and extending through winter season the plant doesn’t need watering, but they will still be growing, the new bodies will be increasing in size extracting water from the outer succulent leaves, allowing them to shrivel away. In fact the plant in this time extracts water and nutrient stored in the outer succulent leaves, allowing them to dehydrate relocating the water to the rest of the plant and to the new leaves that form during this period until the old leaves are reduced to nothing more than "thin papery shells".