Hoodia alstonii
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 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 | |
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 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]