Description
Lithops verruculosa var. glabra distinguish from the similar Lithops verruculosa for being more grey in colour, (mostly) without raised islands or small warts on the top of the leaves (or if present fewer, smaller and less conspicuous.). It shows a large variety of flower colours and form small groups up to 7 or more heads (usually 2-4).
Desmond Cole field number C025: This population distinguishes for having light grey-blue leaves with some pinkish grey, raised red dots.
Origin and Habitat
30 km East of Kenhardt, South Africa.
Habitat: They grow on granitic soils among gravel and stones comprising: Amygdaloidal lavas, banded ironstone, calcrete, fine-grained quartzitic sandstones, cherts, jaspers and shaly sandstones). Background colours grey-white, grey, brown, reddish brown, greyish green, some pink, red, black and blue.
Cultivation and Propagation
Need an open mineral, fast draining mix and the maximum amount of light you are able to give them. The basic cultivation routine is: Stop watering after flowering. Start watering after the old leaves 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, no water when cold. Some growers fertilize frequently, some hardly ever. Keep them dry during the winter. Nearly all problems occur as a result of overwatering and poor ventilation especially when weather conditions are dull and cool or very humid. This plant is best for a well lit area (Bright shade to full sun).
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”.
Bibliography
COLE, DESMOND T. and NAUREEN A., (2005) Lithops Flowering Stones, Cactus&Co. Libri