Lithops bromfieldii v. mennellii ©JL

 

Lithops bromfieldii v. mennellii ©JL

 

Description: Lithops bromfieldii is a non-halophytic, medium sized Lithops, easily recognised by the bullate yellow-brown markings of the dark-green window, pinkish-grey facial colour and the many dark to blood-red rubrications. This species is quite variable and the colours and face pattern varies in plant from different provenance. As with many other Lithops species, several varieties have been described on the basis of variation in the colour of the tops of the leaves, the status of these uncertain, but all conforms to the typical Lithops morphology: two thick, fleshy windowed leaves separated by a crack from which a yellow flower appears. The windowed part allows light into the inner portion of the leaf where the process of photosynthesis is carried out.
Habit: Growths solitary or forming clumps of two to 10 or more heads, (mostly 2-4) to 1,5 cm high..
Bodies (paired leaves): Mostly about 25 X 20 mm obconical, truncate. The fissure is shallow, 4-8 mm; lobes conjunct, top surface flat or slightly convex and bullate generally reddish coloured. The face is elliptical to kidney-shaped more or less equal with window present ans irregular, very dark olive-green or more or less absent, and on this a number of bifurcated blood-red to dark brown-red lines, the forks ending in the sinuses of the outer margin, the surface is impressed by valley-like channels and raised islands, and bright to dark-blood red, orange-red rubrications sometimes scattered with dots, hooks and dashes in the channels.. Dusky dots dull dark greyish green. Outer margin lobed or laciniated, the lobes or laciniae projecting into the window and forming ridges or islands; islands and lobes bullate, coloured a brown-yellow; margin coloured light brown-yellow.
Flowers: Yellow, small to large 25-35(-45) mm in diameter.
Fruits: 5-chambered, profile boat-shaped, top flat.
Seeds: Yellow-brown, rugose.

http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Aizoaceae/12915/Lithops_bromfieldii