Hoodia parviflora Seeds - Namibian Medicinal Succulent Stapeliad Exotic

Hoodia parviflora Seeds

 Namibian Succulent

Hoodia is a genus of 13 species in the flowering plant family Apocynaceae. They are stem succulents, described as cactiform because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated cactus family. They can reach up to 1m high and have large flowers, often with tan colour and strong smell. They fall in the group of succulents, collectively known as Stapeliads. Many Hoodia species are protected plants, typical of the Namib Desert, ranging from Central Namibia to southern Angola, especially in plains and rocky areas. Common names include "Bushman's Hat" and "Queen of the Namib". Several species are grown as garden plants, and one species, Hoodia gordonii, is being used as an appetite suppressant. They grow well in pots and rockeries. The unusual flowers are flat and saucer-like in shape and red, purple to brown or mottled dark yellow in colour. Flowers form prolifically near the stem tips in summer. The short stems are many angled with white spikes appearing at short intervals on each angle. Stems are single or branch forming, they occur in variable shades of green. Medicinally it is widely used traditionally by the San people of southern Africa as an appetite suppressant, thirst quencher and as a cure for severe abdominal cramps, hemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, hypertension and diabetes. Hoodia parviflora commonly known as Ghaap or Bottelboom is the largest growing Stapeliad. Plants that are over 2 meters tall grow in the Kaokoland. They are found naturally growing in Kunene, Northern Namibia in Africa. The stems of Hoodia parviflora are similar to those of Hoodia currori. Hoodia parviflora is being developed commercially for use in weight loss food and dietary supplement products. Its effects are ascribed to a number of glycosides that have been shown to be present in plant extracts from several Hoodia species, the best known of which is Hoodia gordonii. Hoodia parviflora has been identified as an alternative to Hoodia gordonii.