''Hoodia currorii'' is a
succulent plant
In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meanin ...
native to
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country on the west coast of Southern Africa. Its borders include the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south; in the no ...
and the
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope (), commonly referred to as the Cape Province () and colloquially as The Cape (), was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa. It encompassed the old Cape Co ...
of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
.
It grows in desert areas and is common along the road from
Karibib
Karibib () is a town in the Erongo Region of western Namibia. It has 8,434 inhabitants. Karibib is the district capital of the Karibib Constituency, Karibib electoral constituency. It is situated on the Khan River, halfway between Windhoek and S ...
to
Swakopmund
Swakopmund ("Mouth of the Swakop River, Swakop") is a city on the coast of western Namibia, west of the Namibian capital Windhoek via the B2 road (Namibia), B2 main road. It is the capital of the Erongo Region, Erongo administrative district. It ...
in Namibia.
It is also known as ''ghaap'' in the vernacular.
Description
''Hoodia currorii'' grows in erect clumps with gray-green stems, 8 centimeters in diameter.
It reaches heights of 50 to 80 centimeters tall.
It bears rust-red flowers mid-summer
which are covered in purple hairs.
These are large flowers, about five to ten centimeters in diameter.
Cultivation
''Hoodia currorii'' is more commonly seen cultivated than other ''
Hoodia'' species.
It can be grown from cuttings.
Uses
''Hoodia currorii'' may be eaten after the spines are removed and is said to have a sweet flavor.
References
Flora of Southern Africa
currorii
Edible plants
{{Apocynaceae-stub