Lithops hookeri var. marginata

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Since 4 Aug 2013

Lithops hookeri var. marginata (Nel) D.T.Cole
Lithops Flowering Stones 226 (1988)
Family: AIZOACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Lithops hookeri (A.Berger) Schwantes
Möller's deutsche gärtner-zeitung 1928, xliii. 46. Möller

Origin and Habitat: South Africa,Cape Province and Orange Free State (Located to the east of the range of var. hookeri both North and South of the Orange River)
Type Locality: South East of Hopetown (C035)
Habitat: They grows on different kind of stony and gravelly grounds where are very difficult to spot. Substrata mainly composed by yellow-brown fine-grained sandy shale; red-stained quartzite; brown amygdaloidal lava; dark brown dolerite. They closely resemble the surrounding pebbles of their natural habitat, either in colouration and shape, this camouflage allows them to escape detection and is a very effective strategy for escaping predation. They are pollinated by bees, flies, wasps, gnats, bugs and other insects that are common in the area.

Synonyms:

Lithops hookeri var. marginata (Nel) D.T.Cole

Lithops marginata Nel
Lithops turbiniformis var. marginata (Nel) D.T.Cole

See all synonyms of Lithops hookeri

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Accepted name in llifle Database:
Lithops hookeri (A.Berger) Schwantes
Möller's deutsche gärtner-zeitung 1928, xliii. 46.
Synonymy: 52

Lithops hookeri (A.Berger) Schwantes

Lithops aurantiaca L. Bolus
Lithops turbiniformis N.E.Br.
Mesembryanthemum hookeri A.Berger
Mesembryanthemum truncatellum Hook.f. non Haw.
Mesembryanthemum turbiniforme N.E.Br. non Haw.

Lithops dabneri L. Bolus
Lithops turbiniformis var. dabneri (L. Bolus) D.T.Cole

Lithops turbiniformis var. elephina D.T.Cole

Lithops turbiniformis var. lutea de Boer

Lithops marginata Nel
Lithops turbiniformis var. marginata (Nel) D.T.Cole

Lithops turbiniformis var. subfenestrata de Boer

Lithops hookeri var. subfenestrata C019 (syn. brunneoviolacea) TL: 40 km SW of Griquatown, South Africa

Lithops turbiniformis var. brunneo-violacea de Boer

Lithops turbiniformis var. susannae D.T.Cole

Lithops hookeri vermiculate

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Lithops hookeri var. susannae C091 (D.T.Cole) D.T.Cole

Cultivars (5):

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Description: Lithops hookeriSN|13004]]SN|13004]] var. marginata is one of the many a controversial varieties of Lithops hookeriSN|13004]]SN|13004]], but its varietal status is uncertain and some consider it only a form of the latter. It is distinguished from Lithops hookeriSN|13004]]SN|13004]] for the upper surface usually rust-brown, with olive-green windows and top part of surface slightly rugulose. However it is the more variable variety for face colours with a tendency to broader grooves which often widen into channels and open windows occasionally even into partially open windows.
Habit: Growth solitary or forming clumps of 2 or more.
Bodies (paired leaves): Medium to small, turbinate, rounded from above, profile truncated, top of lobes elliptic subequal, slightly convex, slightly rugulose. Shoulders, face margins and islands, violaceous, opaque yellowish, greenish, pinkish or brownish grey, yellow or pink beige, reddish grey, the margins often obscurely banded with more intense colour. Windows and channels large, obscurely transparent, various shades of dark olivaceous green, greyish or brownish green, greenish brown, greyish red or dark grey. In the window numerous islands of irregular shape; impressed in the plane and in the slight undulations are numerous dark blood-red or orange-red dots and lines, scarcely visible with the naked eye. Dusky dots dull dark greyish green. Outer margin laciniated, laciniae very irregular and between them dark blood-red dots and lines; inner margin slightly denticulate or nearly straight. The islands in the window are formed from the projecting laciniae.
Flowers: Yellow, often small.
Blooming season: Autumn (in habitat blooms in April)
Fruits: Mostly 6-cambered.
Seeds: Large, reddish.

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Lithops hookeri group

Lithops hookeri (A.Berger) Schwantes: var. hookeri Cole numbers: C110, C112, C113, C114, C118, C142B, C340 (Vermiculate form) C023, C051, C335, C336T Usually without windows and with rare dusky dots, but with an obscure network of simple and forked groves and lines, and numerous irregular small island enclosed by groves. Margins are irregularly incise with narrow lines tapering out of the grows. The colour of the margins and face island comprises opaque brown or buff or greyish, reddish, pinkish or orange-brown. Channels and grooves are opaque or very obscurely transluscent greenish brown or grey, greyish or brownish green, orange or reddish brown or red. Lines dull dark red. Shoulders as for the face dull grey.
Lithops hookeri C023 (vermiculate Form) 55 km SW of Prieska, South Africa: very fine jagged pattern.
Lithops hookeri C051 (vermiculate Form) 15 km NW of Strydenburg, South Africa: has dark red jagged lines.
Lithops hookeri C110 50 km NW of Marydale, South Africa: deep dark red jagged lines.
Lithops hookeri C112 40 km WNW of Prieska, South Africa: deep red jagged lines, rusty.
Lithops hookeri C113 10 km NW of Niekerkshoop, South Africa: dark olive brown top.
Lithops hookeri C114 15 km NW of Niekerkshoop, South Africa: rusty pink, red lines.
Lithops hookeri C118 25 km W of Strydenburg, South Africa: rusty grey, jagged lines.
Lithops hookeri C142B 30 km NW of Niekerkshoop, South Africa: dark brown, red jagged lines.
Lithops hookeri C335 (vermiculate Form) 30 km WSW of Strydenburg, South Africa: numerous small bumps.
Lithops hookeri C336 (vermiculate Form) 45 km SSW of Prieska, South Africa: furrowed channels.
Lithops hookeri C340 Near Marydale, South Africa: bold humps, lightning lines.
Lithops hookeri var. dabneri (L. Bolus) D.T.Cole: Cole numbers C013, C085, C301 Differs from type for a relatively frequent presence of shadowy, obscurely translucent windows. Shoulders, margins and island opaque grey or bluish, pinkish, or brownish grey or greyish brown, often slightly more intensely coloured around the margins, Channels various shades of obscurely transluscent slate-grey, dark bluish or greenish grey or greyish or brownish green. Lines dull dark red. Dusky dots dull dark greyish green.
Lithops hookeri var. dabneri C013 TL: 25 km S of Kimberley, South Africa.: dark red lines.
Lithops hookeri var. dabneri C085 35 km W of Kimberley, South Africa: grey top, red jagged lines.
Lithops hookeri var. dabneri C301 20 km NNE of Douglas, South Africa: deep jagged lines.
Lithops hookeri var. dabneri cv. Annarosa
Lithops hookeri var. elephina (D.T.Cole) D.T.Cole: Cole numbers C092, C093 Differs from type for the wider and shallower channel and for the generally absence of rubrication. Margins and islands opaque grey tinged, pale pink or brown. Channels obscurely translucent greyish green, grey or greenish grey. Rubrications (if present) very obscure dull red. Shoulders opaque grey to brown.
Lithops hookeri var. elephina C092 TL: 10 km N of Britstown, South Africa: dark grey, dark lines.
Lithops hookeri var. elephina C093 25 km NE of Britstown, South Africa: dark rusty grey body.
Lithops hookeri var. lutea (de Boer) D.T.Cole: Cole number C038 Quite the same as var. hookeri with large island and coarse network of grooves. The margins, shoulders and islands varies from opaque beige tinged with with pink, brown, yellow or orange. Channels various shades of opaque or very obscurely transluscent orange-brown, orange-red, brown, red-brown or greenish grey. Rubrications blood-red. Dusky dots dull dark greyish green.
Lithops hookeri var. lutea C038 TL: 5 km NE of Groblershoop, South Africa: bright orange-red.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata (Nel) D.T.Cole: Cole numbers C035, C137, C338; (Cerise form) C088; (Red-brown form) C053, C089, C154, C155, C337 This is one of the more variable variety for face colours with a tendency to wider channels and more open windows. Shoulders, face margins and islands, opaque yellowish, greenish, pinkish or brownish grey, yellow or pink beige, reddish grey, the margins often obscurely banded with more intense colour. Windows and channels various shades of obscurely translucent greyish or brownish green, greenish brown, greyish red or dark grey. Rubrications bright to dull dark red, orange-red. Dusky dots dull dark greyish green.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata C035 TL: 25 km SE of Hopetown, South Africa: olive green tinged pink.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata C053 (red-brown Form) 25 km SW of Douglas, South Africa: pinkish grey, rusty lines.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata C088 (cerise Form) 20 km ENE of Hopetown, South Africa
Lithops hookeri var. marginata C089 (Red-brown Form) 25 km ENE of Hopetown, South Africa: grey-red body, red lines.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata C137 35 km E of Hopetown, South Africa: pinkish green.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata C154 (red-brown Form) 30 km NW of Hopetown, South Africa: red brown lines.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata C155 (red-brown Form) 30 km NW of Hopetown, South Africa: pinkish rust top, few lines.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata C337 (red-brown Form) 30 km SE of Douglas, South Africa: finely netted top.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata C338 35 km SE of Hopetown, South Africa: fine reddish lines.
Lithops hookeri var. marginata cv. Shimada's Apricot Y.Shimada: It differs from var. marginata in its pinkish apricot colour.
Lithops hookeri var. subfenestrata (de Boer) D.T.Cole: Cole numbers C021, C156, C175; (brunneoviolacea) C019
Distingushed for having obscurely transluscent windows with very shallow channels, obscure islands, dark brownish slate colour and polished appearance. Shoulders, face margins and islands various shades of opaque brownish grey, buff or greyish, yellowish, greenish or pinkish brown; the margins often suffused with a band of more intense colour. Windows and channels various shades of obscurely transluscent dark brownish slate, brownish green.
Lithops hookeri var. subfenestrata C019 (syn. brunneoviolacea) TL: 40 km SW of Griquatown, South Africa: Murky windows.
Lithops hookeri var. subfenestrata C021 TL: 15 km SSW of Prieska, South Africa: Rusty brown sheen.
Lithops hookeri var. subfenestrata C156 5 km N of Prieska, South Africa: shiny dark rusty top.
Lithops hookeri var. subfenestrata C175 20 km SSE of Prieska, South Africa: red brown, coarse.
Lithops hookeri var. susannae (D.T.Cole) D.T.Cole: Cole number C091 This is the less reticulate form and also the smaller in smaller size. Shoulders, face margins and islands various shades of opaque cream or pale grey, often tinged with yellow, green, pink or pale brown, the margins occasionally banded with more intense colour. Channels various shades of obscurely transluscent greyish green, greenish grey, brown, or orange-brown, sometimes more intensely coloured in the margins. Rubrications obscure dull red.
Lithops hookeri var. susannae C091 (D.T.Cole) D.T.Cole: deep jagged lines, grey.
Lithops hookeri var. susannae C091 cv. Green form
Lithops hookeri vermiculate
Lithops hookeri cv. Envy S.A.Hammer: The plant is yellowish-green in colour, but is otherwise the same as var. hookeri.
Lithops hookeri cv. Shimada´s Apricot

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/nov/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.

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