Lithops - Au Cactus Francophone

figure 15 . lithops aucampiae l. bol.
are found. The plant represented in Fig. 14 and Plate 1 corresponds to the
original, i.e. reddish, whereas that in Fig. 15 and Plate 2, although apparently
a different plant, is also L. Aucampiae. The latter plant was very nearly de
scribed by the author as a new species, since it differs quite considerably from
the type as originally described. On examining material fresh from the field
collected by Dr. Geyer of Cape Town, it was quite obvious that neither the
nature nor the colour of the window is a safe criterion for determining this
species. It appeared that the plant represented in Fig. 15 was growing along
side the plant in Fig. 14 at Danielskuil. The borders of the laciniated or den
dritic margins are coloured red, and this appears to be the constant character
of this species, whether the window is large and open or dotted with islands.
The delicate red colouration between the laciniae of the margin is a charac
ter by which this species can easily be recognised. These coloured lines are
absent in both L. Lesliei and L. Venteri, to which this species is related. Mr.
Minnaar of Vryburg informs me that clumps of L. Aucampiae are sometimes
8 inches in diameter and that the plants from the vicinity of Griquastad are
redder than those from the neighbourhood of Vryburg. The soil of the former
is also tinted a deeper red than that of the latter place. Fig. 15 is one of the
plants in Fig. 16 somewhat enlarged to show the markings more clearly.
Lithops Aucampiae. (Plate 1, 2.) Plante enkel, in pare of baie in ’n klomp;
planteliggaam verkeerdkeëlvormig; die boonste vlak gelyk; die mantel ’n ligte
roesbruin kleur of effens rooierig; die venster bestaan uit ’n groot aantal dele
van onreëlmatige grootte en vorm, vat mm of meer in mekaar saamvloei en
dus met mekaar verbind is; soms is die venster vereng tot deursigtige of half
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