Hoodia officinalishas a tenacious account of use as a medicinal and food works . It is said to be the sweetest - savouring of all Hoodias and is well - known in Namibia and South Africa .
Hoodia officinalis(N.E.Br . ) Plowes
Ceropegia officinalis , Trichocaulon officinale
In cultivation, Vredendal, Western Cape, South Africa. Photo by Paul Schultz. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
crime syndicate : ApocynaceaeSubfamily : AsclepiadoideaeTribe : CeropegieaeGenus : Hoodia
The specific name " officinalis " ( pronounced oh - fiss - ih - NAH - liss ) imply " medicative " and refer to the purpose of this species as a medicinal plant .
Hoodia officinalisis native toNamibiaandSouth Africa . It grows inside bushes in flat or gently slosh area .
In habitat, Kareeberg Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa. Photo byDavid Hoare. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
Hoodia officinalisis a succulent plant that forms a clump of gray - park to brown - greenish stems withtuberclesjoined in the lower one-half into 14 to 23 ribs . The cylindric stems are either erect or straggle and can grow up to 16 inch ( 40 cm ) long and 2.8 inches ( 7 cm ) in diam . Each tubercle is lean with a precipitous brown spine measuring up to 0.5 inch ( 1.2 cm ) long .
From bound to fall , Hoodia officinalisproduces bell - shaped flowers that can progress to a diameter of 0.8 inches ( 2 centimeter ) . Thecorollaranges from wan greenish with brownish vein to cherry-red - brown on the outside , while the inside is red - brown to yellow-bellied - chocolate-brown with a covering of small-scale conical papillae , each tipped with a finebristle . Thetubeis often much paler yellow . Thecoronais yellow to black red - brown and raised on a very shortstipe .
There are two tell apart subspecies :
In cultivation, Vredendal, Western Cape, South Africa. Photo by Paul Schultz. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Light : Hoodia officinalisprefers full Sunday but benefits from light ghost on the hottest summer day . Indoors , pose the plant near the bright windowpane in your home , as it will debase if it does n’t receive enough sun . head off abruptly moving a plant conform to low-down light levels to full Dominicus to keep burn .
Soil : utilize a commercial-grade potting grime mix design for succulents or prepare your own with 50 % to 70 % mineral grit , such as coarse Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin , pumice stone , or perlite .
Temperature : The flora fly high in affectionate outdoor environments with low to moderate humidness . It does not like winter cold and should remain fairly dry and warm during its dormancy . Hoodia officinalisgrows best inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones10a to 11b , with average minimal wintertime temperatures ranging from 30 ° F to 50 ° F ( -1.1 ° C to 10 ° C ) .
A flower and buds. In habitat, Kareeberg Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa. Photo byDavid Hoare. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
Watering : It has distinctive lachrymation needs for a succulent . During the growing season , from spring to fall , water the plant exhaustively and allow the dirt to dry between waterings . When it goes dormant in winter , it needs almost no water , about once a calendar month .
fertilize : Fertilizing is beneficial to keep the plant healthy and thriving . tip it with water - soluble fertilizer cut to half the recommended strength , but only when the works is actively growing .
Repotting : RepotHoodia officinalisin springiness , just before the growing season . It has shallow roots and does n’t require a lot of soil to develop . Always pick a container with drain hole .
extension : The best way to propagate this succulent is by stem cuttings . To see to it good rooting , take cuttings during the originate season . The plant is also easy to take off from seeds in spring .
discover more atHow to originate and give care for Stapeliads .
Hoodia officinalisis non - toxic and safe to spring up around Kyd and pets .
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