"On picking up from the stoney ground, what was supposed a curiously shaped pebble, it proved to be a plant, an additional new species to the numerous tribe of the Mesembryanthemum: but in colour and appearance bore the closest resemblance to the stones between which it was growing."

W.J. Burchell, 1811.

This plant was given the name Mesembryanthemum turbiniforme and was first described in writing by H. Haworth in 1821, a year before Burchell published his account of its discovery, in his two-volume book: Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa. It was renamed Lithops turbiniformis, by N.E. Brown in 1922, when he created the genus Lithops.

Many have followed in their passion for these incredible plants and this group was created with this same spirit in mind.

I hope you will discover the same joy that I have in my explorations of these fascinating plants.

Andrew van Ginkel

Group Founder