Origin and Habitat: Endemic of Northern Cape, know only in one colony, to the northeast of Pofadder.
Habitat: Stony soils among quartzite gravel. Background colour mostly opaque white, with some pink or blue-grey.

• Lithops fulviceps var. laevigata D.T.Cole

• Lithops fulviceps N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum fulviceps N.E.Br.
• Mesembryanthemum ortendahlii Dinter
• Lithops fulviceps C170 40 km N of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps C219 (syn. lydiae) TL: 60 km N of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps C220 TL: 75 km N of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps C221 85 km N of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps C266 65 km N of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps C278 70 km W of Upington, South Africa
• Lithops fulviceps C284 15 km NE of Karasburg, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps C390 30 km NW of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps C391 25 km NW of Grünau, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps C415 (pale Form) Near Fish River Canyons, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps var. lactinea D.T.Cole
• Lithops fulviceps var. lactinea C222 TL: 100 km ESE of Keetmanshoop, Namibia
• Lithops fulviceps var. laevigata D.T.Cole
• Lithops fulviceps var. laevigata C412 TL: 90 km NE of Pofadder, South Africa
• Lithops lydiae L. Bolus ex H.Jacobsen

• Lithops fulviceps C363 Locality unknown (Namibia) cv. Aurea (Y.Shimada) D.T.Cole
• Lithops fulviceps f. aurea Y.Shimada

Description: Lithops fulviceps is generally smaller than most Lithops but its shape follows the same pattern of a cordate (heart-shaped), bifurcate body of two leaves, cleft nearly to the base and showing a pattern of channels, islands and windows on the top face. This species usually do not shows clearly evident margins, windows, channels and islands, but the top of the leaves are scattered by numerous dots ( dusky dots) and are more or less reticulated by slightly impressed grooves that sometime form a conspicuous network. The patterns of colour and dots on the face is more or less regular within certain ranges of similarity. For this species, the dusky dots are very specific ranging in colour from dark grey through browns to purple.
Flowers: Yellow, medium sized up to 35 mm wide but usually less.
Fruit: 5 loculed capsules.
Seeds:Yellowish brown to brown; smooth to rugose.

Notes: Lithops are partly subterranean, with only the clear 'window' in each leaf tip exposed above soil. A type of optical system exists whereby a layer of apical tissue rich in calcium oxalate crystals acts as a filter to intense sunlight before it reaches the thin chlorophyllous layer below. They are also called mimicry plants as they show a striking similarity to their background rocks and are difficult to detect when not in flower. These are the commonly known as pebble plants or living stones; each species is associated with one particular type of rock formation and occurs nowhere else. Its soil-embedded, subterranean growth form also reduces the need for chemical defences against herbivores.
Comment: 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".

Bibliography: Major refences and further lectures
1) Heidrun E. K. Hartmann (2002) “Aizoaceae F – Z” Springer
2) Achim Hecktheuer (2008) “Mesembs, mehr als nur Lithops” Books on Demand GmbH Norderstedt. ISBN-13 978-3-8370-1724-3
3) Desmond T. Cole & Naureen A. Cole, Uwe Beyer, Yves Delange (2008) “Les Lithops” SUCCULENTES Spécial 2008 AIAPS (now Terra seca). ISSN 0258-5359
4) Desmond T. Cole & Naureen A. Cole (2005) “LITHOPS Flowering Stones” Cactus & Co. Libri. ISBN 88-900511-7-5 ISBN-13 978-88-900511-7-3
5) Yasuhiko Shimada (2001) “The Genus Lithops” Dobun Shoin. ISBN 4-8103-4066-X
6) Rudolf Heine (1986) “Lithops - Lebende Steine” Neumann Verlag. ISBN 3-7402-0000-6; ISBN-13 978-3-7402-0000-8
7) Bernd Schlösser (2000) “Lithops – Lebende Steine” Praktische Anleitung für die Zimmerkultur. BussinessPoint MEDIA. ISBN 3-934945-01-5; ISBN-13 978-3-934945-01-2
8) Steven A. Hammer (1999) “Lithops – Treasures of the veld” British Cactus and Succulent Society. ISBN 0-902-099-64-7; ISBN-13 978-0-902099-64-7
9) Desmond T. Cole (1988) “Lithops – Flowering Stones” Acorn Books CC. ISBN 0-620-09678-0; ISBN-13 978-0-620-09678-2
10) Rudolf Heine (1986) “Lithops – lebende Steine” Neumann Verlag. ISBN 3-7402-0000-6; ISBN-13 978-3-7402-0000-8
11) David L. Sprechman (1970) “Lithops” Associated University Presses, Inc. SBN 8386-6902-6
12) Gert Cornelius Nel (1946) “Lithops” Hortors Limited, South Africa

Cultivation and Propagation: Need an open mineral, fast draining mix and the maximum amount of light you are able to give them. The basic cultivation routine is: Stop watering after flowering. Start watering after the old leaves 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, no water when cold. Some growers fertilize frequently, some hardly ever. Keep them dry during the winter. Nearly all problems occur as a result of overwatering and poor ventilation especially when weather conditions are dull and cool or very humid. This plant is best for a well lit area (Bright shade to full sun). But don't be afraid even the best growers have plants that mysteriously dry up, or leave during the night.