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Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne.
Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 8: 665. 1844 [mid Mar 1844] see also: Sweet in Hort. Brit. [Sweet], ed. 2. 359. 1830
Family: ASCLEPIADACEAE

Hoodia gordonii Photo by: K.k. Agrawal
It has been called one of the ''wonder plants'' of the twenty first century, widely used as an appetite suppressant in slimming pill. It produces large disk shaped flowers, with a very unpleasant smell.

Synonyms:

See all synonyms of Hoodia gordonii
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Accepted name in llifle Database:
Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne.
Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 8: 665. 1844 [mid Mar 1844] see also: Sweet in Hort. Brit. [Sweet], ed. 2. 359. 1830
Synonymy: 15 Accepted name in llifle Database:
Hoodia gordonii f. cristata hort.

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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Kalahari cactus, African Hats, Queen of the Namib, Bushman's Hat, Hoodia
AFRIKAANS (Afrikaans): Guaap, Ngaap, Ghaap, Bobbejaanghaap, Bergghaap, Bitterghaap, Bokhorings, Bitter Ghaap, Ghap, Gap, Gnaap
HEBREW (עברית): הודיה גורדוני
KHOI: Khobab
SWEDISH (Svenska): Flugtallrik

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Hoodia gordonii group

  • Hoodia bainii Dyer: has stems covered with tubercles, ending in woody spines. Flowers are, buff coloured, fading to purple, often smaller than in H. gordonii. Distribution: Namaqualand, Karoo
  • Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne.: has spiny stems similar to a cactus. Flower saucer-shaped to 75 mm across, pale straw, pale purple to dark maroon with darker venation. Distribution: Kalahari desert in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola.
  • Hoodia gordonii f. cristata hort.: crested form.

27200 RapCactus Raimondo Paladini
Hoodia gordonii Photo by: Raimondo Paladini
8848 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Hoodia gordonii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

23590 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Hoodia gordonii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
646 andrea Andrea B.
Hoodia gordonii Photo by: Andrea B.

15938 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Hoodia gordonii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
648 andrea Andrea B.
Hoodia gordonii Photo by: Andrea B.

15936 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Hoodia gordonii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
18031 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Hoodia gordonii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

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