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'']
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