The genus Lithops was established by the late N.E.Brown on account of the appearance of the plant.The word lithops is derived from a combination of two Greek words: Lithos (=stone) and ops (=like); meaning like a stone.
In 1810, William John Burchell came to South Africa on a botanical expedition of the Cape and during his travels encountered a strange looking, rough, brown little stone with a fissure across the surface.
He soon realised on closer inspection that this strange looking stone was not what it initially appeared to be, but rather a plant belonging to the mesembryanthemum tribe. This plant was named by Haworth as Mesembryanthemum turbuniformis on account of its peculiar form. When the mesembryanthema were revaluated and classified into different genera, Burchell's peculiar little plant became Lithops turbiniformis.

The fame and popularity of Lithops have increased over the years and today they are one of the most sought after plants in the world. This has led to people from all over coming to South Africa in the hope of finding Lithops in the wild. Many, however, do not foresee the impossible task of being able to spot them when they mimic their natural surroundings so well. Lithops even escape those with a trained eye and years of experience in the field.

Lithops mimic their surrounding sand colour, rocks and stones so well that it is not suprising that they are now commonly referred to as stone plants. In areas where Lithops are known, the farmers refer to them as beeskloutjies (translated = cattle hoof) or skaappootjies (translated = sheep hoof). Lithops have often been confused with many other succulents such as Opthalmophlum, Conophytum, Dinteranthus vanzijlii, Dinteranthus puberlus, Dinteranthus wilmotianus, Titanopsis, Argyroderma spp. and Lapidaria margarethae. Dinteranthus vanzijli and Opthalmophylum were classified as Lithops in the past but are now considered separate genera.

Present interest in Lithops has stretched far beyond the African borders and they are now researched internationally. Much of this research is focussed on hybrids and cultivars and the ability of Lithops to crossbreed. Locally people do not realise the uniqueness of these plants and often through ignorance many colonies of Lithops have been destroyed. Many farmers are not even aware of the existence of Lithops on their farms and often graze their livestock or build on areas where Lithops are established, leading to the eventual decline of the colony.

We are hoping that the availability of seeds and plants internationally will reduce the overzealous attempts of collectors and allow these plants the rights to survive so that our children can appreciate the joys and wonders these plants have given us.

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, but borrow it from our children"

See pics of plants often confused with Lithops:
Dinteranthus puberlus

---

This page hosted byGet your own Free Home Page