Hoodia officinalis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 30-40 cm high. The stems are succulent and spiny. They are 4-7 cm thick. They have spines 4-12 mm long. The flowers are small. There are some subspecies. The fruits are double follicles. They have many fluffy seeds.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It suits hot arid places. It grows in areas with a marked dry season. The dry season can be 6-11 months. It is often on limestone rocky soils. In southern Africa it grows between 300-1,600 m above sea level. It grows in the Kalahari. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The thorns are removed and the stem eaten for their moisture. They are also used to make a sweet preserve.

Edible parts

Pods, stems, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed. They can also be grown by cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Lgoai-i

Synonyms

Hoodia rustica (N. E. Br.) Plowes; Trichocaulon delaetianum Dinter; Trichocaulon officinale N. E. Br.; Trichocaulon pubiflorum Dinter; Trichocaulon rusticum N. E. Br.; Hoodia delaetiana (Dinter) Plowes;