Lithops Villetii subsp. Kennedyi
Living Stones 'Villetii Kennedyi'
Original:Description: Lithops villetii subs. kennedyi is a fairly easy to identify subspecies of Lithops villetii. Distinguished from the latter by its truncate profile, narrow and much indented margins and generally reddish-brown colour; uniform and usually easily identifiable. They are generally smaller and greyer in colour than the mainly reddish-brown forms occurring in all other localities.Habit: It is grows solitary or forming clumps of up to 4 or more heads, mostly 2 and 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. Bodies (paired leaves): Truncate-cordate in profile, medium to klarge, 28-36 mm in diameter up to 3 cm high and about 20-25 mm wide at the fissure. Fissure shallow, 5-10 mm. Lobes conjunct or very slightly divergent. Face flush, elliptic-reniform; lobes equal-unequal. The upper surface is slightly rugose, variable in colour, usually greenish yellow, dark grey-green or brownish, slightly convex, while the sides are light greyish-brown or light brown. Windows usually partially occluded, to completely open, opaque greenish or brownish grey or greyish green, brown, orange-brown or purplish brown. Islands are numerous, small, usually distinct but irregular, occasionally reduced to hazy flecks, opaque grey, bluish or pinkish grey, or greyish pink, brown, orange-brown or red. Margins distinct, somewhat in relief, very irregularly dentate or sinuate with numerous peninsulas some colour of islands . Channels mostly fairly narrow, irregular, various shades of opaque greenish or brownish grey or greyish green, brown, orange-brown or purplish brown. Dusky dots rarely visible even with a lens, very obscure. Rubrications absent. Shoulders sometimes grey or bluish grey; sometimes this colour extends also onto the peninsulas and outer islands.Flowers: Daisy-like, diurnal, small to medium, 2-3 cm diameter. Petals satiny white. Blooming season: Autumn (in habitat blooms in April).Fruits: Capsules 6-parted. Profile boat-shaped, top flat. Face broadly elliptic. This capsule only opens when moistened, exposing the tiny seeds. In nature, falling rain drops splash out the seeds to a distance of a few centimetres to up to a metre or more from the parent plant. After the capsule dries up it closes again, protecting any seeds left behind. Seeds: Yellow-brown to light brown, smooth to rugose. New:A popular and sought after succulent. Lithops have paired leaves with smooth flat or rounded tops that are ridged or wrinkled, sometimes with transparent windows, and sometimes colorful markings. The flowers are white or yellow and emerge in autumn or winter. Lithops are relatively easy to grow if given sufficient sun and a suitable well-drained soil.
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Full sun to partial shade
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Very little water
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Not Frost hardy
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Light and free draining
Common name
Living Stones 'Villetii Kennedyi'
Latin name
Lithops Villetii subsp. Kennedyi
type
Succulent
family
Aizoaceae
ph
5.0 - 6.5 Acid - Neutral
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Light
Full sun to partial shade
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Frost
Not Frost hardy
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Soil
Light and free draining
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Water
Very little water
Plant & bloom calendar
-
Best time to plant
full grown dimensions
0.02 M
0.01 M
Lithops Villetii subsp. Kennedyi
Original:Description: Lithops villetii subs. kennedyi is a fairly easy to identify subspecies of Lithops villetii. Distinguished from the latter by its truncate profile, narrow and much indented margins and generally reddish-brown colour; uniform and usually easily identifiable. They are generally smaller and greyer in colour than the mainly reddish-brown forms occurring in all other localities.Habit: It is grows solitary or forming clumps of up to 4 or more heads, mostly 2 and 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. Bodies (paired leaves): Truncate-cordate in profile, medium to klarge, 28-36 mm in diameter up to 3 cm high and about 20-25 mm wide at the fissure. Fissure shallow, 5-10 mm. Lobes conjunct or very slightly divergent. Face flush, elliptic-reniform; lobes equal-unequal. The upper surface is slightly rugose, variable in colour, usually greenish yellow, dark grey-green or brownish, slightly convex, while the sides are light greyish-brown or light brown. Windows usually partially occluded, to completely open, opaque greenish or brownish grey or greyish green, brown, orange-brown or purplish brown. Islands are numerous, small, usually distinct but irregular, occasionally reduced to hazy flecks, opaque grey, bluish or pinkish grey, or greyish pink, brown, orange-brown or red. Margins distinct, somewhat in relief, very irregularly dentate or sinuate with numerous peninsulas some colour of islands . Channels mostly fairly narrow, irregular, various shades of opaque greenish or brownish grey or greyish green, brown, orange-brown or purplish brown. Dusky dots rarely visible even with a lens, very obscure. Rubrications absent. Shoulders sometimes grey or bluish grey; sometimes this colour extends also onto the peninsulas and outer islands.Flowers: Daisy-like, diurnal, small to medium, 2-3 cm diameter. Petals satiny white. Blooming season: Autumn (in habitat blooms in April).Fruits: Capsules 6-parted. Profile boat-shaped, top flat. Face broadly elliptic. This capsule only opens when moistened, exposing the tiny seeds. In nature, falling rain drops splash out the seeds to a distance of a few centimetres to up to a metre or more from the parent plant. After the capsule dries up it closes again, protecting any seeds left behind. Seeds: Yellow-brown to light brown, smooth to rugose. New:A popular and sought after succulent. Lithops have paired leaves with smooth flat or rounded tops that are ridged or wrinkled, sometimes with transparent windows, and sometimes colorful markings. The flowers are white or yellow and emerge in autumn or winter. Lithops are relatively easy to grow if given sufficient sun and a suitable well-drained soil.
Planting
From Early Spring TO Early Spring
Lithops thrive best in a coarse, well-drained substrate. Any soil that retains too much water will cause the plants to burst their skins as they over-expand. Plants grown in strong light will develop hard strongly coloured skins which are resistant to damage and rot, although persistent overwatering will still be fatal. Excessive heat will kill potted plants as they cannot cool themselves by transpiration and rely on staying buried in cool soil below the surface.
Propagation
From Early Spring TO Early Spring
Propagation of Lithops is by seed or cuttings. Cuttings can only be used to produce new plants after a plant has naturally divided to form multiple heads, so most propagation is by seed. Lithops can readily be pollinated by hand if two separate clones of a species flower at the same time, and seed will be ripe about 9 months later. Seed is easy to germinate, but the seedlings are small and vulnerable for the first year or two, and will not flower until at least two or three years old.