Lithops have been found in 3 countries all in Africa, namely Namibia, South Africa and Botswana. In South Africa
they are found in the Cape Province, Orange Free State and Transvaal. Many localities remain to be found,
especially in Botswana where the plants were found just over the border between Botswana and RSA. Lithops are
found in Namibia in a patchy distribution. Lithops have not been recorded from Natal due to the excessive rainfall
and climatic conditions which are detrimental to their existence.
Map of Namibia
Map of South Africa
Lithops are found in arid regions and the habitats of the various
species are rather diverse. They are found growing
in limestone, amongst quartz grit on plains, on quartzite hills, shale,
gravelly soil, sandy soil, decomposed granite,
amongst grass and in some pans. We found L.localis/terricolor growing
in the cracks of a pan in the Eastern Cape.
The vast majority of Lithops species are in some manner associated with the
Orange River. Many Lithops depend on the mists of the river as a source
of water.
Early morning pic of the Orange River, near a Lithops locality.
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