bio.wikisort.org - Plant

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]

Hoodia alstonii
Hoodia alstonii
Scientific classification
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

Description

Hoodia alstonii can grow to about a meter 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 centimeters 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 degrees Celsius.[2]

Uses

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

References

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