Biology:Hoodia alstonii
| Hoodia alstonii | |
|---|---|
| |
| Hoodia alstonii | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Hoodia |
| Species: | H. alstonii
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| Binomial name | |
| Hoodia alstonii (N.E.Br.) Plowes
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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]
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
- ↑ {{citation | mode = cs1 | title = Hoodia alstonii | work = Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) | url = | publisher = [[Organization:Agricultural Research ServAgricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | access-date = 18 July 2015 }}
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Hoodia alstonii (N.E.Br.) Plowes". LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of Living Forms. http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Asclepiadaceae/25794/Hoodia_alstonii. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Hoodia alstonii". 26 June 2015. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Hoodia+alstonii. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Hoodia in Namibia". http://www.nbri.org.na/sites/default/files/Hoodia_booklet.pdf. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
Wikidata ☰ Q15356703 entry
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