Accepted Scientific Name: Lithops localis
Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 43: 230. 1938
Lithops localis C132A 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown) cv. Silver Spur Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
It is a white flowering mutant.
Origin and Habitat: 40 km East of Laingsburg, South Africa (Type Locality of L. terricolor N.E.Brown)
Habitat: It is found under small shrubs ans stones on gravelly plains and flats.
This species is very difficult to find in the field, especially when slightly covered with fine somewhat reddish sand or dirt. The colour of the dirt approximates that of the upper surface of the lobes, and these are practically level with the soil. This way Lithops localisSN|13296]]SN|13296]] resist attacks from herbivorous predators, and is almost impossible to distinguish from their surroundings until they erupt into vivid daisy-like yellow flowers. They are pollinated by bees, flies, wasps, gnats, bugs and other insects that are common in the area.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Lithops localis
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Lithops localis (N.E.Br.) SchwantesRepert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 43: 230. 1938Synonymy: 30
- Lithops localis (N.E.Br.) Schwantes
- Lithops localis C130 30 km SW of Rietbron, South Africa
- Lithops localis C131 (syn. peersii) TL: Near Miller Station, South Africa
- Lithops localis C132 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown)
- Lithops localis C133 TL 25 km S of Beaufort West, South Africa
- Lithops localis C134 (Prince Albert Form) 5 km N of Prince Albert, South Africa
- Lithops localis C253 (syn. peersii) 95 km NW of Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Lithops localis C254 (syn. peersii) 30 km ENE of Willowmore, South Africa
- Lithops localis C339 (syn. peersii) Near Steytlerville, South Africa
- Lithops localis C345 30 km WNW of Prince Albert Road, South Africa
- Lithops localis C346 30 km WNW of Prince Albert Road, South Africa
- Lithops localis C376 (syn. peersii) 35 km ESE of Willowmore, South Africa
- Lithops localis C379 60 km E of Prince Albert, South Africa
- Lithops peersii L. Bolus
Cultivars
(5):
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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Stone Plant, Split Rocks, Living Rocks, Cleft Stones, Living Stones
Description: Lithops localisSN|13295]]SN|13296]] (syn: Lithops terricolorSN|13296]]SN|13295]]) is generally smaller than most Lithops but its shape follows the same pattern of a cordate (heart-shaped), bifurcate body of two leaves, cleft nearly to the base and showing a pattern of channels, islands and windows on the top face. The patterns of colour and dots on the face is more or less regular within certain ranges of similarity.
Distinguishing characteristic: This cultivar has uncommon pure white bloom instead of yellow.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Lithops localis ( = terricolor ) group
- Lithops localis (N.E.Br.) Schwantes: is distinguished by the pellucid dots regularly scattered over the top surface of the leaves. It is generally smaller than most Lithops. Flowers ywllow. Distribution: from Laingsburg, Northern Cape to Steytlerville, Eastern Cape.
- Lithops localis (syn. peersii) C253 cv. Yellow-Green Form
- Lithops localis C130 30 km SW of Rietbron, South Africa: green grey, merging dots.
- Lithops localis C131 (syn. peersii) TL: Near Miller Station, South Africa: blue-grey, spots.
- Lithops localis C132 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown): blue grey top, many dots.
- Lithops localis C132A 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown) cv. Silver Spur
- Lithops localis C133 TL 25 km S of Beaufort West, South Africa: pale grey blue top, many spots.
- Lithops localis C134 (Prince Albert Form) 5 km N of Prince Albert, South Africa: grey, clear dots.
- Lithops localis C253 (syn. peersii) 95 km NW of Port Elizabeth, South Africa: many transparent dots.
- Lithops localis C254 (syn. peersii) 30 km ENE of Willowmore, South Africa: grey top, clear dots.
- Lithops localis C339 (syn. peersii) Near Steytlerville, South Africa
- Lithops localis C345 30 km WNW of Prince Albert Road, South Africa: fine rusty speckles.
- Lithops localis C345A TL: 30 km WNW of Prince Albert Road, South Africa cv. Speckled Gold D.T.Cole: The numerous dots (small windows) are bright green on a golden top, the plants body is a beautiful lime green colour.
- Lithops localis C346 30 km WNW of Prince Albert Road, South Africa: greyish purple, many shiny spots.
- Lithops localis C376 (syn. peersii) 35 km ESE of Willowmore, South Africa: grey-blue top.
- Lithops localis C379 60 km E of Prince Albert, South Africa: dotted windows.
- Lithops localis cv. Green Sandpoort
- Lithops localis cv. Pinky
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 “Aizoaceae F – Z” Springer 2002
2) Achim Hecktheuer “Mesembs, mehr als nur Lithops” Books on Demand GmbH Norderstedt. 2008
3) Desmond T. Cole & Naureen A. Cole, Uwe Beyer, Yves Delange “Les Lithops” SUCCULENTES Spécial 2008 AIAPS (now Terra seca). 2008
4) Desmond T. Cole & Naureen A. Cole “LITHOPS Flowering Stones” Cactus & Co. Libri. 2005
5) Yasuhiko Shimada “The Genus Lithops” Dobun Shoin. 2001
6) Rudolf Heine “Lithops - Lebende Steine” Neumann Verlag. 1986
7) Bernd Schlösser “Lithops – Lebende Steine” Praktische Anleitung für die Zimmerkultur. BussinessPoint MEDIA. 2000
8) Steven A. Hammer “Lithops – Treasures of the veld” British Cactus and Succulent Society. 1999
9) Desmond T. Cole “Lithops – Flowering Stones” Acorn Books 1988
10) Rudolf Heine “Lithops – lebende Steine” Neumann Verlag. 1986
11) David L. Sprechman “Lithops” Associated University Presses, Inc. 1970
12) Gert Cornelius Nel “Lithops” Hortors Limited, South Africa 1946
13) Edgar Lamb "The illustrated reference on cacti and other succulents" Blandford Press. 1978
14) Christopher Brickell, Royal Horticultural Society "RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants: K-Z., Volume 2" Kindersley, 2008
15) G. C . Nel “Lithops: Plantae succulantae, rarissimae, in terra obscuratae, e famailia Aizoaceae, ex Africa australi” Hortors Limited, Cape Town, South Africa 1946
16) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann "Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae F-Z" Springer, 2002
17) Steven A. Hammer "Lithops: Joyaux du veld" Editions Quae, 25/nov/2010
18) Doreen Court “Succulent Flora of Southern Africa” Struik Nature, 2010
19) Peter Goldblatt “Cape Plants: A Conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa” National Botanical Institute of South Africa, 2000
Lithops localis C132A 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown) cv. Silver Spur Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Lithops localis C132A 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown) cv. Silver Spur Photo by: Cactus Art Lithops localis C132A 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown) cv. Silver Spur Photo by: Cactus Art Lithops localis C132A 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown) cv. Silver Spur Photo by: Cactus Art Lithops localis C132A 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown) cv. Silver Spur Photo by: Cactus Art Lithops localis C132A 40 km E of Laingsburg, South Africa (TL. of L.Terricolor N.E.Brown) cv. Silver Spur Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli 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).
Notes: 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".