Lithops werneri C188

Lithops werneri C188

TL: 25 km NNE of Usakos, Namibia

국표에 없다.

Origin and Habitat: Lithops werneriSN|13608]]SN|13608]] has a monocolonial distribution limited to a small patch in the Erongo Mountains, Karibib district, Namibia.
Habitat: It grows in a rocky areas thickly strewn with smooth, brownish-white pebbles and which this Lithops resembles to an unbelievable degree, this camouflage allows them to escape detection and is a very effective strategy for escaping predation. This species has a very restricted range: only one population is known with extent of occurrence estimated at 1 km². Rainfall expect up to 375 mm per annum in summer (Mostly in February). Substrata mainly composed by weathered granitic gravel. Colour of the background light brownish white, light brown. They are pollinated by bees, flies, wasps, gnats, bugs and other insects that are common in the area.
Conservation: Lithops werneriSN|13608]]SN|13608]] is assessed as highly vulnerable. There was a drastically reduction in population size around 1950, as several hundred plants were collected. Afterwards several visitors over a period of decades to the only known habitat of Lithops werneriSN|13608]]SN|13608]] reported that no plants could be found, so it was supposed extinct. However the journal of the British Cactus and Succulent Society, 'Cactus World', describes in their June 2012 issue that Lithops werneriSN|13608]]SN|13608]] was re-introduced to its original site with the help of the BCSS members and the permission of the Namibian conservation departement. Other than the fact of the re-introduction itself, the most interesting news would be that they found some plants already present after a number of trips had found no trace. Collecting is the main potential threat to the population, along with habitat destruction from tourist activities in the area.

Synonyms:

• Lithops werneri C188 TL: 25 km NNE of Usakos, Namibia

Description: Lithops werneriSN|12915]]SN|13608]] is among the smallest species in the genus, if not the smallest of all the Lithops, with stubby, rounded, yet irregularly-lumpy leaf-pairs, mostly light grey or light greenish grey with several dark greenish brown lines and small pellucid dots.
Habit: It is an acaulescent perennial, geophytic, succulent, seldom solitary, usually forming clumps of 2-3 head up to 1 cm high, occasionally with up 10 or more heads.
Similar species: Lithops werneriSN|13608]]SN|13608]] are similar to Lithops francisciSN|13559]]SN|13559]], to which this plant is probably closely related.
Bodies (Paired leaves): Small sized, compact, obconic, cordate-truncate in profile, slightly convex, 15-24 mm long, 12-18 mm broad, fissure relatively deep. Tops of the leaves elliptic, rugose, opaque, mostly light grey, light greenish grey or greyish brown, sometimes pinkish or yellowish grey with several dark greenish brown lines and small pellucid dots. Outer margins not well-defined , inner margins linear more or less uniform. Islands irregular in relief and enclosed by channels. Windows often not evident or visible as broad to narrow channels. Channels more or less sunken, up to 4 mm wide but usually narrower forming a wrinkled network of shallow grooves, greenish grey or brown, orange brown or greyish green. Rubrication as slender branched lines or indistinct dashes and dots set in the channels or grooves. Dusky dots many widely spread over the whole leaf-top.
Flowers: Small 12-28 mm in diameter. Petals yellow. Lithops werneriSN|13608]]SN|13608]] has a very fragrant spicy scent, as do Lithops bromfieldiiSN|13608]]SN|12915]] v. insularis.
Fruits: Capsules (5-)6-chamberd, profile rotund, top flat to peaked, faces roundish.

 

Lithops werneri C188 TL: 25 km NNE of Usakos, Namibia (llifle.com)

 

https://youtu.be/qchSJ1Pi604?t=659