Origin and Habitat: 25 km East of Cape Cross, Namibia.
Habitat: It grows almost buried in crevices on small granitic inselbergs. The outstanding characteristic of these small succulents is their highly efficient camouflage. Only the upper 12 mm or so of the plant usually protrudes above the soil and in crevices it is often nearly buried by the detritus accumulated about it. The fleshy leaves are a greyish white to pink and can hardly be distinguished from the pink feldspar gravels among which the plant grows and one can search diligently in places where they are known to exist without ever finding them. The “nelii” forms has also a fairly large wide distribution, but its various habitats are more or less of the same nature, and are confined to a region where rain seldom falls. Lithops nelii differs from Lithops ruschiorumSN|13214]]SN|13214]], in that it is only found in brackish soil covered with loose quartz pebbles, whereas L. Ruschiorum, together with Crassula mesembrianthemopsisSN|33490]]SN|33490]] and Anacampseros quinariaSN|25185]]SN|25185]], is found on red quartzite hillocks. The roots of L. Nelii, are placed horizontally, whereas those of other Lithops species are vertical. As these plants grow in a very arid part of the country, where rain seldom falls, the roots must be situated as near as possible to the surface of the soil to be able to absorb whatever moisture reaches the soil in the form of dew or mist. It appears that these plants live to a great age. Clumps have been found to which no less than 150 remains of dry bodies were attached. If one assumes that on account of the heavy mist prevailing on this part of the coast, a new body was formed every year, then such a plant would be about 150 years old. Most probably the plants are much older, since it often happens that in certain years no growth whatsoever will take place.

• Lithops ruschiorum C240 (syn. nelii) 25 km E of Cape Cross, Namibia

• Lithops ruschiorum (Dinter & Schwantes) N.E.Br.
• Lithops ruschiana N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum ruschii Dinter & Schwantes
• Mesembryanthemum ruschiorum Dinter & Schwantes
• Lithops nelii Schwantes
• Lithops ruschiorum subs. nelii (Schwantes) Schwantes
• Lithops ruschiorum var. nelii (Schwantes) de Boer & Boom
• Lithops ruschiorum C101 TL: 35 km NE of Swakopmund, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum C102 (syn. nelii) 20 km E of Cape Cross, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum C103 45 km ENE of Henties Bay, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum C240 (syn. nelii) 25 km E of Cape Cross, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum C241 65 km ENE of Henties Bay, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum C242 65 km ENE of Swakopmund, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum C316 (syn. nelii) Near Cape Cross, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum C387 8 km N of Rössing, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum var. lineata (Nel) D.T.Cole
• Lithops lineata Nel
• Lithops ruschiorum var. lineata C312 50 km NE of Rocky Point, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum var. lineata C313 45 km N of Rocky Point, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum var. lineata C314 40 km NE of Cape Fria, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum var. lineata C380 50 km ENE of Rocky Point, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum var. lineata C386 40 km NNE of Rocky Point, Namibia
• Lithops ruschiorum subs. stiepelmannii Schwantes

• Lithops ruschiorum C387A 8 km N of Rössing, Namibia cv. Silver Reed

Description: Lithops ruschiorumSN|13214]]SN|13214]] a.k.a. "Living Stones or "Flowering stones" are also known in Namibia with the rather descriptive name of “Bushman's or Hottentot's buttocks” and are also sometimes referred to as the “Kaokoveld Lithops”. Although it varies considerably in size and in the presence or absence of facial markings, this variety has a characteristic combination of cordate shape and near white colour. L. ruschion bears a single yellow flower which appears between the two cheeks of the "buttocks" after it rained. A fresh pair of leaves grows every year almost as if a new plant emerges between the old "buttocks".
Remarks: The “nelii” form distinguishes for the paler and smoother bodies that varies from white,to white-grey or greyish-yellow, with no lines or dots on the surface, all the other characteristics are identical, namely size and form of bodies, flowers, fruits etc...
Habit: The plants are stemless, perennial succulents. Growths solitary or usually in clumps of 5-6 heads, but may occasionally forms large clumps with more than 30 heads. Each heads consists of a single, simple, fleshy body which is split into two parts by a deep fissure. From this cleft a single flower blooms when climatic conditions are favourable.
Bodies (paired leaves): Up to 20-38 mm high and about 15-27 mm in width, turbinate, cordate in profile, fissure up to 20 mm deep, lobes slightly to widely divergent, faces prominently convex in the young stage and somewhat elliptic or reniform in outline viewed from above; older stage flat, glabrous; top of lobe in young stage milky pearl-grey, yellowish or yellowish-ochre; older stage milky pearl-grey to greenish-grey; lobes in young stage with minute round irregularly shaped dots or linear depressions. Very often these depressions are branched or interconnected with one another by delicate grooves, the depressions whether dot or line remaining the dominant feature; the dots or depressions coloured prominently dark-red, the connections very faintly coloured; in some cases the lines are absent. Windows and margins absent.
Flowers: The flower is usually about the same dimension as the plant itself (about 15 to 30 mm in diameter) and consists of a large number of long, narrow, yellow petals opening (in the afternoon) into a flattened halo, often with long pedicels.
Blooming season: Autumn, usually in April and May in habitat. In general appearance the blossoms are very similar to the Mesembryanthemum or ice-plant (to which they are closely related).
Fruits: Capsules mostly 5-chambered. Profile boat-shaped, top flat, occasionally slightly peaked. Face elliptic.
Seeds: Minuscule, light brown to brown.

Bibliography: Major refences and further lectures
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann “Aizoaceae F – Z” Springer 2002
2) Achim Hecktheuer “Mesembs, mehr als nur Lithops” Books on Demand GmbH Norderstedt. 2008
3) Desmond T. Cole & Naureen A. Cole, Uwe Beyer, Yves Delange “Les Lithops” SUCCULENTES Spécial 2008 AIAPS (now Terra seca). 2008
4) Desmond T. Cole & Naureen A. Cole “LITHOPS Flowering Stones” Cactus & Co. Libri. 2005
5) Yasuhiko Shimada “The Genus Lithops” Dobun Shoin. 2001
6) Rudolf Heine “Lithops - Lebende Steine” Neumann Verlag. 1986
7) Bernd Schlösser “Lithops – Lebende Steine” Praktische Anleitung für die Zimmerkultur. BussinessPoint MEDIA. 2000
8) Steven A. Hammer “Lithops – Treasures of the veld” British Cactus and Succulent Society. 1999
9) Desmond T. Cole “Lithops – Flowering Stones” Acorn Books 1988
10) Rudolf Heine “Lithops – lebende Steine” Neumann Verlag. 1986
11) David L. Sprechman “Lithops” Associated University Presses, Inc. 1970
12) Gert Cornelius Nel “Lithops” Hortors Limited, South Africa 1946
13) Edgar Lamb "The illustrated reference on cacti and other succulents" Blandford Press. 1978
14) Christopher Brickell, Royal Horticultural Society "RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants: K-Z., Volume 2" Kindersley, 2008
15) G. C . Nel “Lithops: Plantae succulantae, rarissimae, in terra obscuratae, e famailia Aizoaceae, ex Africa australi” Hortors Limited, 78, Bree Street, Cape Town, South Africa 1946
16) Amy Schoeman “Skeleton Coast” Struik, 30/gen/2004
17) Richard F. Logan “The Central Namib Desert, South West Africa” National Academies, 1960

Cultivation and Propagation: The Lithops (a.k.a. Living Stones) are some of the world's most fascinating plants and are sought by the collector of succulent plants. Paying attention to the particular growing requirement of Lithops is especially important. If you provide the Lithops with the right conditions, they will reward you with their unique shape, size, colour and a proliferation of blooms in autumn. However, Lithops are tricky plants that are very particular about their growing conditions and require the right maintenance in order to keep happy. But don't be afraid even the best growers have plants that mysteriously dry up, or leave during the night. While Lithops are picky about their care, if you are patient and remember the basics, your efforts will be rewarded. Being small plants, a representative collection can be grown on a patio table, a sunny windowsill or a shelf in the greenhouse.
Growing rate: Slow growing for a mesemb.
Soil: They grow best in an open mineral, sandy-gritty soil and requires good drainage as they are prone to root rot. They can grow outdoor in sunny, dry, rock crevices (protection against winter wet is required) They can also be cultivated in alpine house, in poor, drained soil.
Repotting: They may stay in the same pot for many years. Plants grown in larger containers have frequently relatively poor flowers. Flowers might improve when the plants are given their own, small individual pots.
Watering They Require little water otherwise the epidermis breaks (resulting in unsightly scars). The basic cultivation routine is: Stop watering after flowering. Start watering after the old leaves are completely dry (usually late March or Early April). Water freely during the growing season, soak the compost fully but allow it to dry out between waterings. In the winter season the plant doesn’t need watering, the plant in this time extracts water from the outer succulent leaves, allowing them to shrivel away, relocating water to the rest of the plant and to the new leaves that form during this period. If grown in a container, bottom watering by immersing the container is recommended. Water sparingly only when warm, no water when cold. Nearly all problems occur as a result of overwatering and poor ventilation, especially when weather conditions are dull and cool or very humid. They must have very dry atmosphere.
Fertilization: Feed them once during the growing season with a fertilizer specifically formulated for cactus and succulents (high potash fertilizer with a dilute low nitrogen), including all micro nutrients and trace elements diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. They thrive in poor soils and need a limited supplies of fertilizer to avoid the plants developing excess vegetation, which is easily attacked by fungal diseases. Some growers fertilize frequently, some hardly ever. However, for the highly succulent mesembs, (Lithops, Conophytums, etc.) fertilization is not really necessary.
Light: They prefer a very bright situation and in winter they need the maximum amount of light you are able to give them, but keep more cool and partially shaded in summer. The only exception to this is seedlings in their first year that enjoy a shades place. Such tiny plants can easily get scorched or broiled and their appearance spoiled (this may not matter in the wild, where the Lithops have probably shrunk into the ground and becomes covered with sands). Outdoor (Lithops prefer full sun, with some shade in the hottest summer months. High levels of light are needed in autumn to flower and for good plant development. The low intensity of sun light during the growing season of this species generally prevents the white flower flowers from opening.
Special Advice: Lithops are best planted in a sunny and airy part of the greenhouse, and not too close to the glass roof or sides of the house as the plants can overheat during hot spells.
Hardiness: They require a minimum temperature 5°C (But will take a light frost and are hardy down to -7° C for short periods if they are in dry soil). USDA zones 9A – 11.
Uses: Container, rock garden.
Pests & diseases: Lithops may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: they may be effectively rubbed up by misting the vulnerable plants every day.
- Mealy bugs: occasianlly they develop aerial into the new leaves and flowers with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Sciara Flies: they are one of the major problems for seedlings. It is a good practice to mulch your seedlings with a layer of grit, which will strongly discourage the flies.
- Scales, thrips and aphids: (they are rarely a problem.)
It is wise to treat your whole collection with a systemic insecticide twice a year in spring and autumn.
- Rot: it is only a minor problem with mesembs if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Remarks: After flowering in the autumn and extending through winter season the plant doesn’t need watering, but they will still be growing, the new bodies will be increasing in size extracting water from the outer succulent leaves, allowing them to shrivel away. In fact the plant in this time extracts water and nutrient stored in the outer succulent leaves, allowing them to dehydrate relocating the water to the rest of the plant and to the new leaves that form during this period until the old leaves are reduced to nothing more than "thin papery shells".
Propagation: Seed or (or rarely) cuttings. The small seeds can be sown in pots of fine, well-drained sand, any time during the spring and summer months when temperatures are warm. Cover the seeds with a very fine layer of grit and water from below with a fungicide to prevent damping off. For the first 3-4 days cover the pots with a sheet of glass/clear perspex to keep the humidity levels high. Remove the glass and replace it with light shadecloth and mist once or twice a day for the next two weeks after which most seeds should have germinated. From then on mistings can be reduced to every second and then every third day as the little plants grow. Take the cuttings from a grown-up mother plant. Each cutting must contain one or more heads along with a fraction of root and permit them to dry out a couple of days, lay the cuttings on the soil and insert the stem end partially into the soil. Try to keep the cutting somewhat upright so that the roots are able to grow downward. It is relatively difficult to root Lithops from cuttings and generally pointless as well, so quick are they from seed.
Comment: Improvement of Lithops characteristics: Some growers (but not all!!) think it is very intriguing to reinforce any characteristic of cultivated Lithops of by crossing two similar selected plants and then back-crossing with the mother plant. This way we can eventually get some interesting results. Of course, many of the nicest Lithops we grow in cultivation have already been selected over time. However many Lithops are already nice plants which can’t really be improved, on the other hand one could try to improve the colour or the markings etc. Now if we have two particular plants we may attempt to breed between them and can maybe get a whole improved population and then select some better offspring to continue the selection.
Seed production: Plants can be hand pollinated, using a small paint brush. Remember always to cross different clones as the plants are self-sterile. The seed will remain viable for many years provided it is stored in a cool dry place.