Lithops - Au Cactus Francophone

figure 17a . lithops bella (dtr.) n.e. br.
atratis conspicuis plus minusve copiose interspersis; fissura brevi vel subnulla
vel ad lineam impressam 4 mm. l. reducta; recept. 8 mm. l., ad 1 cm. diam.;
sep. 6–7, obtusa vel apice rotundata, 0.8–1 cm. l., basi 2–3 mm. lata; pet.
3 vel 4 seriata, obtusa vel interiora emarginata vel acuta, inferne angustata,
aurea, 1.2–2.3 cm. l., ad 2 mm. lata vel 1.3–1.6 cm. l.; stamina 9 mm. l.;
discus acute divisus; ovarium circa marginem planum medium versus lobis
leviter compressis elevatisque; stig. 6–7 ad 1 cm. l.
Griqualand West: Postmasburg. Miss Aucamp, D. McCormick (N.B.G.
616/31) Fl. Apr.
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2. LITHOPS BELLA
Lithops Bella. (Plate 3, 4.) Growths solitary or forming clumps of two or
more; turbiniform; in the young stage slightly convex, in the older stage more
or less flat; sides light grey; window large, irregular, dark green to light green,
surrounded by a buff coloured, light green, light brown or grey brown border.
The outer part of the border provided with lobes varying in length and shape,
giving the border a toothed or dendritic appearance; a few irregularly shaped,
jagged lobes raised above the level of the dark green parts of the window gen
erally and projecting into the window, subdividing it into smaller areas; some
times in the older forms, if fully turgid, the upper surface is strongly convex
and then it has a zebra appearance; the inner margin straight or minutely
lobed or toothed; in the older forms and sometimes in the young stage the
buff colour tends to disappear and is then replaced by a very light green