June - 2019

THE LITHOPS RESEARCH & CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

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Lithops in Habitat and Cultivation - COMING SOON!

Lithops in Habitat and Cultivation

The form, structure and size of Lithops N.E.Br. seeds andthe taxonomic implications

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The effect of the drought on Lithops colonies

The effect of the drought on Lithops colonies

Large areas of southern Namibia have been experiencing drought conditions for at least the past seven years. Many Lithops colonies have been monitored throughout this period and the effect of the drought on the colonies are marked. Many of especially the larger and older multi-headed plants in some of the well-known colonies such as the Lithops karasmontana bella colony near Aus, have died off. These big plants cannot retract below the soil surface and can thus not hide from

Lithops colonies for conservation priority identified

Lithops colonies for conservation priority identified

The conservation status of several Lithops colonies in South Africa was assessed during visits to these colonies during March 2019. At least three colonies have been identified as in urgent need of active conservation measures. One of the Lithops aucampiae colonies near Hopetown has recently been reduced by at least 30 % due to road-building activities close to the colony. Contact is at present being made with the owners of the land where this unique colony is in great danger

Bunches of Lithops aucampiae

The LR&CF was contacted by a farmer near Griekwastad in South Africa to inform us that he has news of a newly discovered colony of Lithops aucampiae plants on a farm in the area. We jumped at the opportunity to see these plants which were reported in a plump condition. In March 2019 we visited the colony on a slight slope where many small thorn trees provided shade for the large clumps of L. a.a. aucampiae plants. The very large colony are hundreds of plants strong and with m

Reintroduction efforts are continuing for L. schwantesii subsp. gebseri

Although it was hoped that the 2018/2019 summer would be a rainy one, it was not to be and the areas where we are replanting L. schwantesii subsp. gebseri have received well below average rainfall which severely hampered reintroduction of the plants into their natural habitat for 2019. The high grass cover still present in November 2018 was all gone. Although the area is fenced and grazing stock cannot enter the area, the termites have cut and taken most of the grass undergro

Lithops colonies for conservation priority identified

The conservation status of several Lithops colonies in South Africa was assessed during visits to these colonies during March 2019. At least three colonies have been identified as in urgent need of active conservation measures. One of the Lithops aucampiae colonies near Hopetown has recently been reduced by at least 30 % due to road-building activities close to the colony. Contact is at present being made with the owners of the land where this unique colony is in great danger

The effect of the drought on Lithops colonies

Large areas of southern Namibia have been experiencing drought conditions for at least the past seven years. Many Lithops colonies have been monitored throughout this period and the affect of the drought on the colonies are marked. Many of especially the larger and older multi-headed plants in some of the well-known colonies such as the Lithops karasmontana bella colony near Aus, have died off. These big plants cannot retract below the soil surface and can thus not hide from

Lithops Research & Conservation Foundation advising on placement of new dumpsite

The LR&CF was asked to advise the National Botanical Institute of Namibia to advise on the placement of new household dump site for the town of Karasburg in southern Namibia during November 2018. Two areas were identified near the town and the LR&CF visited the areas to assess the plant life and observe the animals that use the area and that would thus be affected by the habitat destruction and activities associated with the creation of a dump site. Although no Lithops plants