Hoodia Gordonii Plant also known as the wonder plant due to its medicinal properties was first discovered by Paterson and Col. R.F. Gordon in December 1778 in Upington. Initially this plant was named as Stapelia gordonii by a famous botanist named Francis Masson. In 1830 the name was transferred to Hoodia in honor of Van Hood, who was a keen a keen succulent grower.
Hoodia Gordonii is a cactus like plant which normally grows in Africa’s Kalahari Desert. It has been used for thousands of years by the Native Bushmen to ward off hunger, when they used to go for long hunting trips. Science has discovered it now that Hoodia plant contains unique molecule which can take your hunger away. Scientists at the Brown University suggested that this miracle molecule fools the human brain that you are full! Hoodia, a natural appetite suppressant, is gaining heavy popularity now days due to its potential of acting as a strong weapon against obesity and the US focus on losing weight.
Hoodia Gordonii looks like a dill pickle containing spines. It is a spiny succulent. At the initial stages only one stem is produced but later on the plant starts branching. Mature plants of such type can have as much as 50 individual branches and weight up to 30 kg. Hoodia Gordonii Plant under ideal conditions can attain a height of I meter. Flowers in Hoodia Gordonii are born near or above the terminal apex which is the top part of the plant. These flowers are large in size and have smell like rotten meat. These flowers are similar to that of petunia flower. Colors of these followers are pale straw to dark maroon and are borned in August or September, while seed is produced in October and November.
Hoodia Gordonii growth rate is slow and mostly grows in harsh environments; it takes up to 4 or 5 years before it is ready to harvest. To grow Hoodia Gordonii plant normally requires a temperature in the range of 50 C to 122 F. This plant proved to have a wide tolerance of growing habitats. It is found on dry stony lopes, Kalahari deserts, north eastern parts of Western Cape and southern Namibia. Under ideal conditions Hoodia Gordonii plant can live for 25 years in cultivation, while in wild environments it doesn’t survive for more than 15 years.. The unusual pollination mechanism found in Hoodia Gordonii plant is called myophily which means pollination through flies.
The common names used for Hoodia Gordonii plant are queen of Namib or African hats. Its propagation is mainly done via seeds, cutting is not an option. Hoodia Gordonii seeds are normally light brown in color, mostly flat and posses’ pappus of fluffy hair to its end. Once established Hoodia Gordonni will grow very quickly. This plant has a very good response to organic foodstuffs. In three years time Hoodia Gordonii can attain a height of 250 mm and can have up to 10 branches.
Hoodia Gordonii is entirely natural, not a drug. At the moment Hoodia has over 20 species present in South Africa, but only Hoodia Gordonii has shown positive results to be a highly effective for weight loss.
