Origin and Habitat: Southern and South-eastern Districts, Botswana; Free State, Gautenberg, eastern districts of Northern Cape, eastern part of North West, South Africa. This species has the largest distribution area in the genus Lithops spreading itself along the basin of the Vaal River and its tributaries from Kimberley to Gaborone to Pietersburg and Bethlehem, extending as far south as Zastron District. In the large area in which Lithops leslieiSN|12964]]SN|12964]] is found, no other species occur.
Habitat: Lithops lesliei grows in fairly heavy rainfall area in gravel pockets in grassy places with Euphorbia truncataSN|32952]]SN|32952]] and in the summer and in winter is often entirely covered by grass to such an extent that the clump is not visible. It is rust-brown in the reddish soil from decomposed ironstone, containing coarse conglomeritic sandstone, brown shaly siltstone, quartzite, ferruginous quartzite, pegmatitic granite, fine-grained feldspathic sandstone, amygdaloidal lava, chert, shale, and banded jasper. The plants mimic the small, haphazardly arranged rocks that surround them. In habitat the plants grows embedded in the soil and can tolerate extreme hight temperature and only temperature that exceed 60° C are lethal.

• Lithops lesliei (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
• Lithops orpenii L. Bolus
• Mesembryanthemum ferrugineum Schwantes
• Mesembryanthemum lesliei N.E.Br.

• Lithops lesliei (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
• Lithops orpenii L. Bolus
• Mesembryanthemum ferrugineum Schwantes
• Mesembryanthemum lesliei N.E.Br.
• Lithops lesliei var. applanata (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
• Lithops lesliei subs. burchellii D.T.Cole
• Lithops lesliei subs. burchellii C302 TL: 20 km NNE of Douglas, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei subs. burchellii C308 10 km NNE of Douglas, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C005 TL: (Warrenton Form) Near Warrenton, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C007 15 km S of Johannesburg, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C008 (grey Form) 70 km W of Mafikeng, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C009 (grey Form) 70 km W of Mafikeng, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C010 25 km SW of Lobatse, Botswana
• Lithops lesliei C014 (Kimberley Form) 15 km NW of Kimberley, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C018 Near Stella, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C020 (syn. luteoviridis) TL: 15 km W of Magaliesburg, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. luteoviridis (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
• Lithops lesliei C026 60 km SW of Johannesburg, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C027 Near Bethlehem, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C028 10 km N of Harrismith, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C029 45 km NE of Vaalwater, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C030 (Pietersburg Form) 30 km NW of Pietersburg, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C031 10 km NE of Meyerton, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C032 (Pietersburg Form) 10 km SE of Pietersburg, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C033 45 km E of Pietersburg, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C036 (Warrenton Form) Near Warrenton, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C096 (Warrenton Form) 25 km N of Kimberley, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C115 5 km NW of Vryburg, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C138 Near Benoni, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C139 5 km E of Benoni, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C151 (grey Form) 25 km NW of Christiana, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C331 15 km SSE of Pretoria, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C341 (Kimberley Form) 20 km NW of Kimberley, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C342 10 km NE of Pretoria, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C343 Near Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C344 Near Orkney, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C352 45 km E of Pietersburg, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C354 (Kimberley Form) 15 km NW of Kimberley, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei C358 25 km W of Lobatse, Botswana
• Lithops lesliei C359 (grey Form) 115 km SW of Lobatse, Botswana
• Lithops lesliei C407 15 km N of Krugersdorp, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. hornii de Boer
• Lithops lesliei var. hornii C015 40 km SW of Kimberley, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. hornii C364 TL: 45 km SSW of Kimberley, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. maraisii de Boer
• Lithops lesliei var. mariae D.T.Cole
• Lithops lesliei var. mariae C141 TL: 10 km SW of Boshof, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. mariae C152 30 km NNE of Kimberley, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. minor de Boer
• Lithops lesliei f. minor (de Boer) B.Fearn
• Lithops lesliei var. minor C006 TL: 25 km SW of Swartruggens, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. rubrobrunnea de Boer
• Lithops lesliei var. rubrobrunnea C017 TL: 5 km NW of Randfontein, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. rubrobrunnea C204 5 km NW of Krugersdorp, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. venteri (Nel) de Boer & Boom
• Lithops venteri Nel
• Lithops lesliei var. venteri C001 30 km NW of Warrenton, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. venteri C047 TL: 30 km W of Warrenton, South Africa
• Lithops lesliei var. venteri C153 (syn. maraisii) TL: 60 km NW of Kimberley, South Africa

• Lithops lesliei var. minor C006A 25 km SW of Swartruggens, South Africa cv. Witblom D.T.Cole
• Lithops lesliei var. venteri C001 cv. Green form
• Lithops lesliei C005A TL: Near Warrenton, South Africa cv. albiflora D.T.Cole
• Lithops lesliei f. albiflora (D.T.Cole) D.T.Cole
• Lithops lesliei C036A TL: Near Warrenton, South Africa cv. albinica D.T.Cole
• Lithops lesliei f. albinica (D.T.Cole) D.T.Cole
• Lithops lesliei C036B Near Warrenton, South Africa cv. Storms Albinigold D.T.Cole
• Lithops lesliei var. hornii C015A 40 km SW of Kimberley, South Africa cv. Greenhorn D.T.Cole
• Lithops lesliei cv. Fred´s Redhead
• Lithops lesliei cv. Vivid Green

Description: Lithops lesliei is a medium sized Lithops, easily recognised by miniature circular transparent windows forming a lecework in the opaque covering ranging in colour from Brown Coffee to green grass, green grey, pinkish grey, rusty orange. Each growth consists of two leaves closely pressed together or united, except for a central fissure across the top, from which the large yellow flowers are produced. This species is quite variable and the colours and face pattern varies in plant from different provenance. As with many other Lithops species, several varieties have been described on the basis of variation in the colour of the tops of the leaves. Six varieties were distinguished by Cole (1988): L. lesliei var. hornii, var. lesliei, var. mariae, var. minor, var. rubrobrunnea, and var. venteri, the status of these uncertain.
Habit: Growth solitary or forming clumps of 2 or more.
Bodies (paired leaves): Medium-large, rounded from above, profile truncated, top of lobes elliptic-reniform, flat, smooth, sometimes slightly convex; sides coloured purple-grey, brownish or green; windows always present, rarely ridged or fully open, dark-green, consisting of small irregular, extremely variable confluent areas; densely or sparsely covered with dull orange, yellowish or rust-coloured irregular projections from the slightly raised margins; in these projections small round dark-green openings; outer margin distinct but very irregular, laciniae being very short, others projecting into the window; inner margin nearly straight or provided with obtuse very short lobes, giving the whole margin a wavy appearance; on outer edge of the margins few or many irregular distributed more or less circular windows.
Flowers: Large yellow, rarely white
Blooming season: Autumn (in habitat blooms in April)
Fruits: Mostly 6-cambered.
Seeds: Large, reddish.
Chromosome number: 2n = 18

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/November/2010

Cultivation and Propagation: The Lithops (a.k.a. Living Stones) are some of the world's most fascinating plants and are sought by the collector of succulent plants. Paying attention to the particular growing requirement of Lithops is especially important. If you provide the Lithops with the right conditions, they will reward you with their unique shape, size, colour and a proliferation of blooms in autumn. However, Lithops are tricky plants that are very particular about their growing conditions and require the right maintenance in order to keep happy. But don't be afraid even the best growers have plants that mysteriously dry up, or leave during the night. While Lithops are picky about their care, if you are patient and remember the basics, your efforts will be rewarded. Being small plants, a representative collection can be grown on a patio table, a sunny windowsill or a shelf in the greenhouse.
Growing rate: Slow growing for a mesemb.
Soil: They grow best in an open mineral, sandy-gritty soil and requires good drainage as they are prone to root rot. They can grow outdoor in sunny, dry, rock crevices (protection against winter wet is required) They can also be cultivated in alpine house, in poor, drained soil.
Repotting: They may stay in the same pot for many years. Plants grown in larger containers have frequently relatively poor flowers. Flowers might improve when the plants are given their own, small individual pots.
Watering They Require little water otherwise the epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). The basic cultivation routine is: Stop watering after flowering. Start watering after the old leaves are 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. In the winter season the plant doesn’t need watering, the plant in this time extracts water from the outer succulent leaves, allowing them to shrivel away, relocating water to the rest of the plant and to the new leaves that form during this period. If grown in a container, bottom watering by immersing the container is recommended. Water sparingly only when warm, no water when cold. Nearly all problems occur as a result of overwatering and poor ventilation, especially when weather conditions are dull and cool or very humid. They must have very dry atmosphere.
Fertilization: Feed them once during the growing season with a fertilizer specifically formulated for cactus and succulents (high potash fertilizer with a dilute low nitrogen), including all micro nutrients and trace elements diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. They thrive in poor soils and need a limited supplies of fertilizer to avoid the plants developing excess vegetation, which is easily attacked by fungal diseases. Some growers fertilize frequently, some hardly ever. However, for the highly succulent mesembs, (Lithops, Conophytums, etc.) fertilization is not really necessary.
Light: They prefer a very bright situation and in winter they need the maximum amount of light you are able to give them, but keep more cool and partially shaded in summer. The only exception to this is seedlings in their first year that enjoy a shades place. Such tiny plants can easily get scorched or broiled and their appearance spoiled (this may not matter in the wild, where the Lithops have probably shrunk into the ground and becomes covered with sands). Outdoor (Lithops prefer full sun, with some shade in the hottest summer months. High levels of light are needed in autumn to flower and for good plant development. The low intensity of sun light during the growing season of this species generally prevents the white flower flowers from opening.
Special Advice: Lithops are best planted in a sunny and airy part of the greenhouse, and not too close to the glass roof or sides of the house as the plants can overheat during hot spells.
Hardiness: They require a minimum temperature 5°C (But will take a light frost and are hardy down to -7° C for short periods if they are in dry soil). USDA zones 9A – 11.
Uses: Container, rock garden.
Pests & diseases: Lithops may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: they may be effectively rubbed up by misting the vulnerable plants every day.
- Mealy bugs: occasianlly they develop aerial into the new leaves and flowers with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Sciara Flies: they are one of the major problems for seedlings. It is a good practice to mulch your seedlings with a layer of grit, which will strongly discourage the flies.
- Scales, thrips and aphids: (they are rarely a problem.)
It is wise to treat your whole collection with a systemic insecticide twice a year in spring and autumn.
- Rot: it is only a minor problem with mesembs if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Remarks: 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".
Propagation: Seed or (or rarely) cuttings. The small seeds can be sown in pots of fine, well-drained sand, any time during the spring and summer months when temperatures are warm. Cover the seeds with a very fine layer of grit and water from below with a fungicide to prevent damping off. For the first 3-4 days cover the pots with a sheet of glass/clear perspex to keep the humidity levels high. Remove the glass and replace it with light shadecloth and mist once or twice a day for the next two weeks after which most seeds should have germinated. From then on mistings can be reduced to every second and then every third day as the little plants grow. Take the cuttings from a grown-up mother plant. Each cutting must contain one or more heads along with a fraction of root and permit them to dry out a couple of days, lay the cuttings on the soil and insert the stem end partially into the soil. Try to keep the cutting somewhat upright so that the roots are able to grow downward. It is relatively difficult to root Lithops from cuttings and generally pointless as well, so quick are they from seed.
Comment: Improvement of Lithops characteristics: Some growers (but not all!!) think it is very intriguing to reinforce any characteristic of cultivated Lithops of by crossing two similar selected plants and then back-crossing with the mother plant. This way we can eventually get some interesting results. Of course, many of the nicest Lithops we grow in cultivation have already been selected over time. However many Lithops are already nice plants which can’t really be improved, on the other hand one could try to improve the colour or the markings etc. Now if we have two particular plants we may attempt to breed between them and can maybe get a whole improved population and then select some better offspring to continue the selection.
Seed production: Plants can be hand pollinated, using a small paint brush. Remember always to cross different clones as the plants are self-sterile. The seed will remain viable for many years provided it is stored in a cool dry place.