(status. last rev. 1 feb. 2020)
(Whole chapter needs revision and needs to be merged with "rainfall/precipitation" data)
(Whole chapter needs revision and needs to be merged with "rainfall/precipitation" data)
Habitat is Southern Africa and Namibia.
- As one can see on the Boldyrev map, Lithops are scattered over an immensely large territory in Southern Africa and facing extremely divergent climatological environments.
- The chapter on "Precipitation" cq rainfall is connected in an infrangible way to this locality map as one doesn't go without the other in order to get a clear picture of which species grows where and under what circumstances. However, it is important to be very aware that the precipitation in the Lithops territory is ruled by very divergent extremes.
- Adding a specific chapter or map with soil and/or geology is not possible, that situation is so complex that it cannot be caught in a simple blog. (Although there are other sources).
Some suggest a territory around the tropic of the Capricorn (23°30' South) but that should be better defined as, this far, the most Northen habitat is at 18°09' just North of Purros (L ruschiorum var) and the most Southern distribution is just South of Prince Albert at 33°24' (L localis var).
- In a very general way the Lithops annual life cycle boils down to a simple concept that does NOT overlap with conditions under which we normally grow "other" plants ie growing in summer, dormant in winter. Dr Geyer has made an excellent presentation on the matter and this resume clearly catches the general idea.
- In a very general way, Lithops annual life cycle is reverting to a growing and flowering season in late summer, stretching well into autumn or even winter for some species. Followed by a dry winter rest where the new leaf pair is formed which "sucks up" nutrients and fluids from the old leaves. The resorption of those old leaves can take as long as to the end of the spring of the next year even early summer, depending on local climate. Summers may be predominantly dry but with an occasional thunderstorm bringing some water but not nearly enough to be of much significance.
- The end of summer rains also open the seed pods and wash out the seeds, mostly in "waves" ie not all seeds may be removed at once, seed pods may close in between when getting dry, but once again all sorts of situations may apply.
- The chapter on "Precipitation" cq rainfall is connected in an infrangible way to this locality map as one doesn't go without the other in order to get a clear picture of which species grows where and under what circumstances. However, it is important to be very aware that the precipitation in the Lithops territory is ruled by very divergent extremes.
It goes from around 17 mm/year to well over 700mm/year of rainfall!
- Adding a specific chapter or map with soil and/or geology is not possible, that situation is so complex that it cannot be caught in a simple blog. (Although there are other sources).
Some suggest a territory around the tropic of the Capricorn (23°30' South) but that should be better defined as, this far, the most Northen habitat is at 18°09' just North of Purros (L ruschiorum var) and the most Southern distribution is just South of Prince Albert at 33°24' (L localis var).
That is roughly 15.5 degrees of latitude which boils down to about 1720 km North-South span!
The span between Lüderitz (driest) and Pretoria (wettest) is just over 1300 km
Where Pretoria is actually closer to the equator than Lüderitz!
The span between Lüderitz (driest) and Pretoria (wettest) is just over 1300 km
Where Pretoria is actually closer to the equator than Lüderitz!
- In a very general way the Lithops annual life cycle boils down to a simple concept that does NOT overlap with conditions under which we normally grow "other" plants ie growing in summer, dormant in winter. Dr Geyer has made an excellent presentation on the matter and this resume clearly catches the general idea.
- In a very general way, Lithops annual life cycle is reverting to a growing and flowering season in late summer, stretching well into autumn or even winter for some species. Followed by a dry winter rest where the new leaf pair is formed which "sucks up" nutrients and fluids from the old leaves. The resorption of those old leaves can take as long as to the end of the spring of the next year even early summer, depending on local climate. Summers may be predominantly dry but with an occasional thunderstorm bringing some water but not nearly enough to be of much significance.
- The end of summer rains also open the seed pods and wash out the seeds, mostly in "waves" ie not all seeds may be removed at once, seed pods may close in between when getting dry, but once again all sorts of situations may apply.
- All this implies that all Lithops are certainly NOT created equal, far from it, so dumping them all into one planter/pot is not a very bright idea unless one knows exactly what is put together based on habitat climatological conditions. This works for known species, aka species with a clear and clean historical origin. For bulk or other "no-name" purchases may never be possible to predict the outcome of dumping them together. You may win but you may also lose big time.
- Advice is to keep species in their specific, separated pots.
Under construction needs corrections/additions : Summer dormancy and CAM ...
It is very hard to get the concept of "summer dormancy" through, I tried it before ... there is no little gnome sitting around switching off/on "growth" by looking at a thermometer and a species list somewhere. The speed/swiftness of biological processes and reactions in plants are, like everything chemical, prone to an influence by temperature. Some of these will see their efficiency decrease when the temperature rises and it may become like a "stand still" if temps are very high. Does it not grow or live? Of course it does but everything has been slowed down so much that it looks as if the plant is ... yes indeed "dormant".
Important observation: C numbers, and by default all field collecting numbers are tied to a plant that grows in the wild. With C numbers some have been "added" later based on what was observed in the nurseries after sowing. Dubious practice although Lithopsarians swear that this is valid. For me: humbug, they may be the only ones that do so!
YOU CANNOT GIVE C-NUMBERS TO NO-NAME PURCHASES, EVEN IF THEY "BEAR RESEMBLANCE"
The organisation that sets together all the rules is the ICN (formerly the ICBN) => ICN Web Site
Your best on-line reference for Cole numbers, including all data ... => Lithops Info Cole Numbers
Link downloadable pdf => Cole numbers PDF file
Although Desmond Cole and his wife Naureen have the largest reputation for doing field work, quite some others were also collecting and of course they collect under their OWN field collecting numbers, as it is the custom!
So here are some acronyms you may encounter:
There may also be reference to following institutions although these are probably NOT field collecting numbers rather filing numbers of the organisations at stake:
IAS = International Asclepiads Society
ISI = International Succulents Introductions
MSG = Mesembs Study Group
Unknowns are: U, GM, MRO, NZ MBB
If you have more info, I'd be glad to hear about it!
- Advice is to keep species in their specific, separated pots.
Under construction needs corrections/additions : Summer dormancy and CAM ...
It is very hard to get the concept of "summer dormancy" through, I tried it before ... there is no little gnome sitting around switching off/on "growth" by looking at a thermometer and a species list somewhere. The speed/swiftness of biological processes and reactions in plants are, like everything chemical, prone to an influence by temperature. Some of these will see their efficiency decrease when the temperature rises and it may become like a "stand still" if temps are very high. Does it not grow or live? Of course it does but everything has been slowed down so much that it looks as if the plant is ... yes indeed "dormant".
Structure of a Lithops plant. Courtesy of Prof. R. Wallace, Iowa State University.
On the matters of plant collecting in the field, ergo Field collecting numbers
The C numbers, by Desmond Cole, can be seen referenced a large number of times, but they are NOT collector's nor "collection" numbers! They are "FIELD COLLECTING NUMBERS" mind the difference! ... It is a serial number under which the find in the field is identified and it goes with the specific details on the how, where and under what circumstances the plants were found for the very first time. This number is unique and is inseparably tied to that specific plant species. It is also used as a reference to the plant's first description and the publication thereof. (new) Plants have no official nor valid name status (mostly they get a "spec.nov" attribute if a new species is suspected or if a name is given haste but not published a "nom.prov." nomen provisorum, mostly because one wants to already tie a name to it) unless they are validly described and published in a recognized publication and in a format that complies with the rules of the (Botanical) Nomenclature Organisation). Normally a "conservation" specimen of th eplant must be deposited and registered with a recognized Botanical institution, but I do not know if that is still compulsory in the era of "digital".Important observation: C numbers, and by default all field collecting numbers are tied to a plant that grows in the wild. With C numbers some have been "added" later based on what was observed in the nurseries after sowing. Dubious practice although Lithopsarians swear that this is valid. For me: humbug, they may be the only ones that do so!
YOU CANNOT GIVE C-NUMBERS TO NO-NAME PURCHASES, EVEN IF THEY "BEAR RESEMBLANCE"
The organisation that sets together all the rules is the ICN (formerly the ICBN) => ICN Web Site
Your best on-line reference for Cole numbers, including all data ... => Lithops Info Cole Numbers
Link downloadable pdf => Cole numbers PDF file
Although Desmond Cole and his wife Naureen have the largest reputation for doing field work, quite some others were also collecting and of course they collect under their OWN field collecting numbers, as it is the custom!
So here are some acronyms you may encounter:
| C | = Desmond Cole |
| PV | = Petr Pavelka |
| SB | = Steven Bracke (Mesa Garden) |
| SH | = Steven Hammer |
| Fritz | = Ernst Eduard Fritz |
| R&Y | = Chris Rodgerson and Andy Young |
| CR | = Chris Rodgerson |
| KLAK | = Cornelia Klak |
| DT | = Derek Tribble |
| BM | = Brian Makin |
| LMP | = Louw Pretorius |
| MK | = Myron Kymnach |
| TS, TK, TOK | = Tok Schoema |
| UL | = Jaroslav Ullmann |
| RH | = Ralph Hillmann |
| JAA | = Jean Andre Audissou |
| PP | = Pavel Pavlicek |
| IB | = Ingo Breuer |
| J | = Harald & Anja Jainta |
There may also be reference to following institutions although these are probably NOT field collecting numbers rather filing numbers of the organisations at stake:
IAS = International Asclepiads Society
ISI = International Succulents Introductions
MSG = Mesembs Study Group
Unknowns are: U, GM, MRO, NZ MBB
If you have more info, I'd be glad to hear about it!
Now, back to the habitats!
Your BIG resource here is:
The famous Yvan Boldyrev Map.
- Below is an example: a static copy of the Boldyrev distribution map. The dynamic map can be found using this clickable link:
The Boldyrev map is here [<=click]
The Boldyrev map is here [<=click]
- The map is "zoomable" !!!
- There is also a new Coles KMZ coordinates map that directly opens in Google Earth at
KMZ Google Earth Map with Cole numbers [<=click]
... and the KMZ data can be saved as coordinates in a Google Earth "tab". It shows the C-numbers directly on the map (rather chaotic when zoomed out).
KMZ Google Earth Map with Cole numbers [<=click]
... and the KMZ data can be saved as coordinates in a Google Earth "tab". It shows the C-numbers directly on the map (rather chaotic when zoomed out).
In general ... have a look for more Lithops info here at the: Boldyrev Home Page
