Origin and Habitat: Namibia. It is sporadically distributed throughout the West and South West Great Karasberg, mainly in the Klein Karas, Grünau and and Ai-Ais.
Habitat: These fantastic stone or pebble plants grows in barren minerals plains and mountain slopes clinging to life in this harsh landscape. They live a precarious existence hidden beneath outcrops of quartz and Lichens. They grow almost completely buried in the ground with only the upper truncated portion of the thick, succulent leaves visible. Lithops karasmontanaSN|12138]]SN|12138]] resist attacks from herbivorous predators by mimicking the local stone formations, in this case quartzite, pegmatite, gneiss, calcrete, sandstone, and is almost impossible to distinguish from their surroundings until they erupt into vivid daisy-like white flowers. Colours of the background grey-white, white, grey, pink, yellow-brown, brown, reddish brown, greenish white. They grow along with some of the most fascinating succulent and xerophyte plants like Welwitschia mirabilisSN|22991]]SN|22991]] and quiver trees (Aloe dichotomaSN|616]]SN|616]]).

• Lithops karasmontana N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum karasmontanum Dinter & Schwantes

• Lithops karasmontana N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum karasmontanum Dinter & Schwantes
• Lithops damarana (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum damaranum N.E.Br.
• Lithops karasmontana var. aiaisensis (de Boer) D.T.Cole
• Lithops erniana var. aiaisensis de Boer
• Lithops karasmontana var. aiaisensis C224 TL: 110 km W of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana var. aiaisensis C409 30 km E of Ai-Ais, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C065 (Signalberg Form) 25 km WNW of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C168 (syn. mickbergensis) 10 km NNE of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C169 (syn. mickbergensis) 20 km NNE of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C223 25 km NE of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C225 30 km NW of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C226 25 km W of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C227 (syn. jacobseniana) TL: 10 km SW of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C317 (syn. mickbergensis) 15 km NE of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C327 (syn. mickbergensis) 15 km NNE of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C328 (Signalberg Form) 25 km WNW of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana C408 40 km NE of Ai-Ais, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana var. lateritia (Dinter) hort., nov. comb. ined.
• Lithops lateritia Dinter
• Lithops karasmontana var. lericheana (Dinter & Schwantes) D.T.Cole
• Lithops bella var. lericheana (Dinter & Schwantes) de Boer
• Lithops lericheana Dinter & Schwantes
• Mesembryanthemum lericheanum Dinter & Schwantes
• Lithops karasmontana var. lericheana C193 50 km NNE of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana var. lericheana C267 TL: 70 km N of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana var. lericheana C329 70 km N of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana var. lericheana C330 70 km N of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana var. mickbergensis (Dinter) de Boer & Boom
• Lithops jacobseniana Schwantes
• Lithops mickbergensis Dinter
• Lithops karasmontana var. opalina (Dinter) de Boer & Boom
• Lithops karasmontana subs. opalina (Dinter) de Boer & Boom
• Lithops opalina Dinter
• Lithops karasmontana var. summitatum (Dinter) de Boer
• Lithops summitatum Dinter
• Mesembryanthemum summitatum Dinter
• Lithops karasmontana var. tischeri D.T.Cole
• Lithops fossulifera Tischer in H.Jacobsen
• Lithops karasmontana var. tischeri C182 TL: 30 km NNE of Grünau, Namibia

• Lithops karasmontana subs. bella (N.E.Br.) D.T.Cole
• Lithops bella N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum bellum (N.E.Br.) Dinter in Fedde
• Lithops karasmontana subs. bella C108 TL: 5 km S of Aus, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. bella C143A 60 km NNE of Aus, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. bella C285 Near Aus, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. bella C295 115 km SSE of Aus, Namibia

• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii (Dinter & Schwantes) D.T.Cole
• Lithops bella var. eberlanzii (Dinter & Schwantes) de Boer & Boom
• Lithops eberlanzii (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum eberlanzii Dinter & Schwantes
• Lithops edithae N.E.Br. non Schwantes
• Lithops erniana Tischer ex H.Jacobsen
• Lithops erniana var. witputzensis de Boer
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C082 35 km E of Lüderitz, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C147 (syn. erniana) 40 km S of Aus, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C149 (syn. erniana witputzensis) TL: 110 km SSE of Aus, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C208 10 km S of Aus, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C209 (syn. erniana) 10 km SSE of Aus, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C369 TL: 20 km E of Lüderitz, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C370 35 km 35 km E of Lüderitz, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C398 45 km E of Lüderitz, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C399 45 km E of Lüderitz, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C400 45 km E of Lüderitz, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C401 25 km SE of Lüderitz, Namibia
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C404 50 km E of Lüderitz, Namibia

• Lithops karasmontana var. aiaisensis cv. Orange top
• Lithops karasmontana var. aiaisensis cv. Red Blushed Selection
• Lithops karasmontana var. mickbergensis cv. 99.44% white
• Lithops karasmontana var. summitatum cv. Red Selection
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C370A TL: 35 km E of Lüderitz, Namibia cv. Avocado Cream D.T.Cole
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii C402 40 km E of Lüderitz, Namibia cv. Avocado Cream
• Lithops karasmontana subs. eberlanzii cv. Purper
• Lithops karasmontana cv. Top Red

Description: Lithops karasmontanaSN|12138]]SN|12138]] (a.k.a. Stone plant) is a tiny perennial, caespitose, succulent plant resembling a grouping of tiny pebbles split down the middle like cleft hooves. It grows to a maximum eight of 4 cm above ground and spreads to form small clumps with up to 12 or more heads (usually 2-6). It is one of the more variable species, with uniformly coloured or variously ornamented plants, and yet with opaque or obscurely windowed forms; there is also a great variation in the colours. Plants from different localities show strikingly different colours or patterns, but all natural populations show some degree of variation among individuals, and in some all possible intermediates colours and pattens occur.
Stem: Almost stemless.
Bodies (Paired leaves): Inverted cone-like, divided into 2 unequal-sized, conjunct and coalescent leaves. These leaves are modified for water storage as well as photosynthesis. Face elliptic-reniform 25-35 x 20-28 mm broad usually rugose. Top flat to slightly convex, fissure fairly deep, 4-10 mm long. Colours pale grey or bluish-grey on lower parts and shoulders, upper surfaces mottled with, brick red, beige, yellow, grey-green, brown, pale purple-brown, pink, grey-white on the flat sunken surfaces, rubrications absent or a network of dots, hooks, triangles, short lines, no lip-smear. Windows obscurely translucent greyish, bluish or brownish often absent. Margins indistinct or with more or less evident indentations, light grey tinged with various shades of blue, green, yellow, brown, pink or red. Channels narrow and irregular greyish, bluish, brownish green, or red-brown often limited to slightly impressed obscure lines and obscurely translucent. Often the channel are completely covered with dark brown, red or purplish rubrications that forms short lines, hooks, triangles and dots linked into a network. Islands irregular in shape, frequently only vaguely noticeable. Dusky dots absent or very inconspicuous.
The plant renews itself every year or so by putting out a new plantlet from between the two lobes. Once the new plant is full sized, the old lobes shrivel up and slough off as a snake skin does.
Flowers: Big up to 4,5 cm in diameter (mostly 25-35 mm) satiny white, narrow-rayed.
Blooming season: Late summer or early autumn.
Fruit: Seed capsules mostly 5-chambered, otherwise 4 or 6-chambered. Profile boat-shaped.
Seeds: Minuscule, yellow-brown; smooth to rugose.

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 references and further lectures
1) Gert Cornelis Nel, “Lithops: Plantae Succulente, Rarissimae, in Terra Obsuratae, E Familia Aizoaceae, Ex Africa Australi” Hortors Limited, University Press, Stellenbosch. 1946
2) Linda R. Berg “Introductory Botany: Plants, People, and the Environment” Cengage Learning, 02/Mar/2007
3) Dieter J. Von Willert “Life strategies of succulents in deserts: with special reference to the Namib desert” CUP Archive, 1992
4) Chris Mcintyre “Namibia” Bradt Travel Guides, 2007
5) Neale (W. T.) & Co, Edgar Lamb “Neale's photographic reference plates, 1949: Combining cacti and other succulents” Vol. 2 W. T. Neale & Co.
6) RHS “A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants.” United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008
7) American Horticultural Society “The American Horticultural Society encyclopedia of garden plants” Macmillan, 30/Nov/1989
8) H. E. K. Hartmann “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae F-Z” Springer, 2002
9) Schwantes, Gustav. “Flowering Stones and Mid-day Flowers” London: Ernst Benn. 1957
10) S. M Walters “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: Casuarinaceae to Aristolochiaceae” Cambridge University Press, 1989
11) Clive Innes “Complete Handbook of Cacti and Succulents” Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 01/Dec/1981
12) Cole, D. T. “Flowering stones” Acorn Books, Randburg. 1988
13) Smith et al. “Mesembs of the World.” Briza.Pretoria 1998
14) Leistner, O.A. (ed.), “Seed plants of southern Africa: families and genera” Strelitzia 10., National Botanical Institute, Pretoria 2000
15) Achim Hecktheuer “Mesembs, mehr als nur Lithops” Books on Demand GmbH Norderstedt. 2008
16) Cole “LITHOPS Flowering Stones” Cactus & Co. Libri. 2005
17) Yasuhiko Shimada “The Genus Lithops” Dobun Shoin. 2001
18) Rudolf Heine “Lithops - Lebende Steine” Neumann Verlag. 1986
19) Bernd Schlösser “Lithops – Lebende Steine” Praktische Anleitung für die Zimmerkultur. BussinessPoint MEDIA. 2000
20) Steven A. Hammer “Lithops – Treasures of the veld” British Cactus and Succulent Society. 1999
21) David L. Sprechman “Lithops” Associated University Presses, Inc. 1970

Cultivation and Propagation: Lithops 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. 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.
Propagation: From seed, with seed planting best in either October or April.