Lithops - Au Cactus Francophone

11. LITHOPS EBERLANZII
Lithops Eberlanzii. (Plate 9.) Growths solitary or forming clumps of 2 or
more: leaves more or less subequal; top of lobe flat or subconvex; sides and
top tinted a violaceous grey; window semi opaque, surface slightly uneven,
the depressions coloured lighter than the ridges, which are coloured a deeper
grey; outer margin of numerous (20) more or less uniform teeth; inner margin
very nearly straight with here and there a lacinia projecting into the window;
laciniae very slightly raised above the surface of the window. Flower white.
(Figs. 33 and 34).
South West Africa: Kuckaus Pockenbank plain; Kovisberge.
This species resembles L. hello to such an extent that at first sight
one is at a loss to state what the actual difference is. The main points of
difference are (1) window of L. bella is transparent and pellucid, whereas that
of L. Eberlanzii is so to say opaque; (2) the ridges of the top surface in L.
bella are raised slightly above the level of the window and are coloured at
one stage buff coloured, in L. Eberlanzii the window and the laciniae seem
to merge into a wavy surface and the ridges are coloured greenish white; (3)
outer margin of L. bella has a few laciniae of very irregular shape, some con
sisting of a large irregular body joined by narrow strip to the margin, and in
L. Eberlanzii outer margin consists of laciniae giving the whole the appear
ance of being toothed. Fig. 34 is a photo of the plant in the young stage and
shows the nature of the lobe distinctly and also how the young leaves appear
between the remains of the old ones.
figure 34 . lithops eberlanzii (dtr. et schwant.) n.e. br.
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