Hoodia 642219 219049009 2008-06-13T09:58:37Z Edgar181 491706 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 219003883 by [[Special:Contributions/66.71.56.153|66.71.56.153]] ([[User talk:66.71.56.153|talk]]) {{Taxobox | name = ''Hoodia'' | image = Hoodia gordonii P1010383.JPG | image_caption = ''Hoodia gordonii'' | image_size = 250px | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Gentianales]] | familia = [[Apocynaceae]] | subfamilia = [[Asclepiadaceae|Asclepiadoideae]] | tribus = [[Stapeliae]] | genus = '''''Hoodia''''' | genus_authority = [[Robert Sweet (botanist)|Sweet]] ex [[Decne.]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text }} '''''Hoodia''''' ({{pronEng|ˈhʊdiːə}}) is a [[genus]] of 13 species in the [[flowering plant]] [[family (biology)|family]] [[Apocynaceae]], under the subfamily [[Asclepiadoideae]].<ref name="stevens">{{cite web | author=Stevens PF (2001 onwards) | url=http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/orders/gentianalesweb.htm#Apocynaceae | title=Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Gentianales | publisher=Missouri Botanical Gardens | date=2007-06-03 | version=8 | accessdate=2008-03-21}}</ref> They are stem [[succulent plant|succulent]]s, described as "cactiform" because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated [[cactus]] family. They can reach up to 1m high and have large [[flower]]s, often with flesh colour and strong smell. 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 investigated for use as an [[Anorectic|appetite suppressant]].{{Fact|date=April 2008}} On [[January 18]], [[2008]], the [[Botanic Gardens Conservation International]] (representing [[botanic gardens]] in 120 countries) stated that "400 [[medicinal plants]] are at risk of extinction, from over-collection and deforestation, threatening the discovery of future cures for disease." These included [[Yew tree]]s (the bark was used for cancer drugs, [[paclitaxel]], although current licensed syntheses do not); Hoodia (from [[Namibia]], source of [[weight loss]] drugs); half of [[Magnolia]]s (used as Chinese medicine for 5,000 years to fight cancer, [[dementia]] and heart disease); and [[Autumn crocus]] (for [[gout]]). The group was said to have found that five billion people rely upon traditional plant-based medicine for [[health care]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7196702.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Medicinal plants 'facing threat' | date=2008-01-19 | accessdate=2008-03-21}}</ref> Hoodia is currently listed in Appendix II to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ([[CITES]]), which includes species not currently considered endangered but are at risk if trade is not controlled.<ref name="CITES">{{cite web | title=CITES Appendices I, II and III | url=http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml | accessdate=2008-03-21}}</ref> ==Species== *''[[Hoodia alstonii]]'' *''[[Hoodia cactus]]'' *''[[Hoodia currorii]]'' (syn. ''H. lugardii'', ''H. macrantha'') *''[[Hoodia dregei]]'' *''[[Hoodia flava]]'' *''[[Hoodia gordonii]]'' (syn. ''Stapelia gordonii'', ''H. barklyi'', ''H. burkei'', ''H. longispina'') *''[[Hoodia juttae]]'' *''[[Hoodia mossamedensis]]'' *''[[Hoodia officinalis]]'' (syn. ''H. delaetiana'') *''[[Hoodia parviflora]]'' *''[[Hoodia pedicellata]]'' *''[[Hoodia pilifera]]'' (syn. ''H. annulata'', ''H. grandis'', ''H. pillansii'') *''[[Hoodia ruschii]]'' (Queen of the Namib) *''[[Hoodia triebneri]]'' (syn. ''H. foetida'') ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?5781 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Hoodia''] *[http://style.uk.msn.com/fashionandbeauty/bebeautiful/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5568400 MSN Article Reviews Hoodia: ''Hoodia''] [[Category:Hoodia| ]] [[de:Hoodia]] [[es:Hoodia]] [[fr:Hoodia]] [[it:Hoodia]] [[nl:Hoodia]] [[ja:フーディア]] [[pt:Hoodia]] [[sv:Flugtallriksläktet]]