Hoodia gordonii aka Ghaap

Hoodia gordonii is a spiny succulent in the Apocynaceae family. Its thick stems give it a cactus-like look. Common names include Kalahari cactus and Bushman's Hat. Kew places its native range from Namibia to South Africa's Free State. It grows in deserts and dry shrubland. LLIFLE also reports it from Botswana and Angola. Wild plants grow in deep sand, stony slopes, and flats. Young plants often start beneath shrubs that shade them.

Plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. A young plant starts with one stem, then forms upright clusters. An old plant may have as many as 50 branches. The round stems range from grey-green to pale brown. They bear no leaves. Raised bumps, called tubercles, form 11–17 ribs along each stem. Each tubercle ends in a sharp spine. The uneven stem surface scatters sunlight and limits heat gain. Under good care, plants may live for 25 years. LLIFLE suggests wild plants may live for about 15 years.

Flowers grow near the stem tips, alone or in small groups. Each broad bloom has five lobes and a sunken centre. Flowers can reach about 0.25 feet [0.075 metres] across. Colours range from pale straw through pale purple to dark maroon. Darker veins often mark the petals. Their smell recalls decaying meat, and flies provide most pollination. LLIFLE gives August to September as the flowering period. Plants may take about five years to produce their first blooms. The seed pods have a curved, horn-like shape. Flat, light-brown seeds carry a tuft of fine hairs. Wind carries them away when the pods split.

Its wild sites include areas that receive winter rain. LLIFLE advises regular watering during growth, but little water in winter. It recommends winter quarters around 10°C. Dry plants may tolerate brief spells near freezing or slightly below. These brief cold limits do not establish a garden hardiness zone. The supplied evidence gives no firm light requirement for cultivation.

The clustered stems and broad flowers give this plant its distinct look. Its foul flower scent also forms part of its appeal or drawback. LLIFLE records its use in products sold to curb appetite. That report does not establish their safety or effect. The supplied evidence does not confirm edible parts or toxicity. It also gives no species-level account of pests or diseases.