Lithops - Au Cactus Francophone

As will be described later, its main centre of distribution lies on the western
side of southern Africa. In the whole central part of this area, usually called
the Kalahari, these plants have up to the present not been found, though
L. pseudotruncatella has advanced to the borders of the Kalahari at Gobabis,
unusual repetition S.W.A., L. Aucampiae has got as far as Postmasburg from the south, and
of L. Aucampiae L. Aucampiae as far as Vryburg. The genus reached its most southern point
in the Springbok Flats (L. terricolor) near Port Elizabeth.
While the genus as a whole has a very wide distribution certain species
appear to he confined to small areas. It is probably too early to dogmatise
about this, for Lithops species grow in the most arid and inaccessible parts
of this subcontinent. Even after prolonged and systematic search by trained
collectors it is likely to take many years before all is known about the distri
bution of the genus. Thus far the discovery of new species and of new habi
tats of known species has often been a mere matter of chance, for except after
recent rains many species are exceedingly difficult to find.
(2) A remarkable feature of the distribution of this genus is that it has
evidently found within the water basin of the Orange River and its many
tributaries ideal conditions for its development. The genus occurs in the basin
of the Vaal River and along the basin of the Mossop as far as Windhoek,
as well as along the basin of the Fish River which flows southwards through
South West Africa. About three quarters of the species are found within the
water basin of the Orange River and its tributaries. The area from Upington
to the mouth on both sides of the river can be considered as the main cen
tre of development of the genus. L. salicola is found near Lückhoff, O.F.S., Luckhoff > Lückhoff
figure 7 . lithops salicola l. bol.
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