Hoodia alstonii

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Hoodia alstonii
Hoodia alstonii-0749 - Flickr - Ragnhild & Neil Crawford.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Hoodia
Species:
H. alstonii
Binomial name
Hoodia alstonii
(N.E.Br.) Plowes

Hoodia alstonii is a succulent plant native to Namibia and the Cape Province of South Africa. [1] H. alstonii is also known commonly as ghaap, an Afrikaans name. [2] It tends to grow in rocky, desert areas. [3]

Contents

Description

Hoodia alstonii can grow to about 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height. [3] The stems are upright and pale gray in color. [4] The plant has very sharp, hard spines. [4] It produces small, yellow flowers mostly on the top parts of the stems which are approximately 1–1.8 centimetres (0.4–0.7 in) in diameter. [4] The flowers have an odor similar to excrement and are pollinated by flies. [3] It has a shallow root system. [2]

Cultivation

Hoodia alstonii is considered easy to grow, but needs plenty of fresh air and should be watered mainly during its growing season. [2] It is prone to root rot. [2] It prefers warm temperatures, though it is occasionally hardy to 0 °C (32 °F). [2]

Uses

Hoodia alstonii has been harvested in the wild as a food source. [3]

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References

  1. "Hoodia alstonii". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Hoodia alstonii (N.E.Br.) Plowes". The Encyclopedia of Succulents. LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of Living Forms. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Hoodia alstonii". Useful Tropical Plants. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Hoodia in Namibia" (PDF). National Botanical Research Institute. Retrieved 18 July 2015.