There are around 2000 Lithop species indigenous to Southern Africa and Andrew van Ginkel in McGregor in the Western Cape, South Africa has them (almost) all. He is a collector pur sang with a huge greenhouse behind his 'humble tatched' McGregorian 'hut'.
Andrew is globally known as one of the experts on the genus. His websites http://www.lithops.co.za and http://www.lithops.za.com provides all indepth info about 'living stones'. Yesterday he published some photo's of flowering lithops. Here they are and enjoy!
http://www.lithops.co.za /gallery/02/gallery.htm
He also looks after the modest lithop collection of our own Soekershof.
Flatrocks in McGregor South Africa
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Flatrocks in McGregor South Africa
Voted as 'Best Garden in the Western Cape, South Africa' (The Independent, UK, January 2010)
Re: Flatrocks in McGregor South Africa
"There are around 2000 Lithop species indigenous to Southern Africa..."
Surely 38 is closer to the mark? Of course there are many subspecies, varieties and forms, but 2000?!
Surely 38 is closer to the mark? Of course there are many subspecies, varieties and forms, but 2000?!
Swellendam, Western Cape, South Africa
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Re: Flatrocks in McGregor South Africa
Maybe an idea to have a look into http://www.lithops.co.za
You will be surprised. But indeed included are quite a few subspecies (but not the varieties!)
You will be surprised. But indeed included are quite a few subspecies (but not the varieties!)
Voted as 'Best Garden in the Western Cape, South Africa' (The Independent, UK, January 2010)
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Re: Flatrocks in McGregor South Africa
There are currently 38 species of Lithops (including L. steineckeana, only known in cultivation and probably a hybrid) and Andrew certainly has every one. There are 53 subspecies and around 80 named varieties, plus perhaps 100 more names no longer used. The number 2,000 could possibly refer to the number of separate Lithops populations, although that is a somewhat higher number than I'm familiar with.
Cheshire, UK