Hoodia parviflora
Plant Family
Apocynacae (Formerly Asclepiadaceae), Subfamily Asclepiadoideae
Accepted Binomial Name
H. parviflora N.E. Br
Synonymous Binomial Names (Kew 2019g)
Ceropegia floriparva Bruyns
Common (Vernacular) Names
Tree hoodia
Subspecies
No subspecies have been described (TPL 2019).
Plant Characteristics
Endemicity. Endemic to north-western Namibia and the south-western corner of Angola (Bruyns 2006a). In Namibia H. parviflora is restricted to the Kunene region, where it is often found in mopane shrub land (NABRI undated).
Growth Habit. This species is the largest of all stapeliads, a small tree sometimes reaching a height of slightly over two meters (six feet). The plants have a distinct form with thick stems, long uninterrupted rows of tubercles and a dull grey-blue epidermis, except at the actively growing stem tips, which are green. There are few, if any side branches on the pure species. Our hybrid plants, and plants grown from cuttings may be multi-branched.
Flowers. The flowers are usually yellow, sometimes yellow-orange or yellow-brown and most often appear in dense clusters near the top of the stems. Sometimes the flowers are packed together so densely they are unable to open completely. The are medium sized (3 – 4 cm in diameter) and foul-smelling (NBRI undated).
 Hoodia parvifolia, Wild Type in Bloom |
 Hoodia parviflora, Wild Type with Densely Arranged Flowers |
 Hoodia parviflora Flower Center |
Among the various Hoodia species we have grown the flowers of this species are the most malodorous and this putrid odor is pronounced on hot days. Many different fly species are attracted to them.
 Flies on Hoodia parviflora Flowers |
Fruit and Seeds. As typical of the genus. The fruiting body consists of two horn-like, slender, erect follicles. On ripening the follicles split, releasing the seeds. As they are released a tuft of filament-like pappi opens and the seeds are disbursed by air currents.
 Ripening Hoodia parviflora Follicles in Seed Collection Net Bag |
 Hoodia parviflora Seed Pods Opening |
 Open Seed Pod of Hoodia parviflora |
 Hoodia parviflora Seed with Pappus |
 Hoodia parviflora Seeds with Pappi Removed |
Conservation Status
This species is not currently listed as endangered. Increased awareness and market value of H. gordonii for use in appetite suppressants may have increased mortality associated with unsustainable harvesting of wild plants and this practice could possibly threaten other species of Hoodia. Commercial trade for this purpose is increasing. In addition to increased harvesting, Hoodia is also threatened by habitat degradation from agriculture and development (FWS 2019c).
CITES Listing: This and all other species of Hoodia, are listed on Appendix II of CITES. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival (CITES 2019a). This listing includes all parts and derivatives except those bearing a label:
“Produced from Hoodia spp. material obtained through controlled harvesting and production under the terms of an agreement with the relevant CITES Management Authority of [Botswana under agreement No. BW/xxxxxx] [Namibia under agreement No. NA/xxxxxx] [South Africa under agreement No. ZA/xxxxxx].” (CITES 2019b).
Hybrids of Hoodia species with other species are subject to these requirements (Shippmann 2016). Hoodia seeds are also regulated by CITES (Harcum 2019), contrary to the information posted on the FWS website (USFWS 2019).
IUCN Listing: No assessments of the conservation status of Hoodia parviflora were found on International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2019).
U.S. Endangered Species Act Listing Status: This taxon not listed (FWS 2018).
Uses
Appetite Suppressant. Hoodia parviflora is used a in frozen form and in other forms such as powders as an active ingredient in many nutraceutical products for appetite suppression. It has several characteristics that make it one of the most suitable species of Hoodia for this purpose:
1. Favorable Production and Harvesting Characteristics – It’s rapid growth, upright growth habit maximize production of plant material in limited greenhouse space. The wide stems are easier to prepare and have less thorns per unit of volume.
2. Lower Bitterness – It is generally less bitter than mature specimens of Hoodia gordonii.
3. Highest Appetite Suppression – Among the extracts of several Hoodia species studied in animal experiments, H. parviflora had the lowest content of the marker compound P57 (thought to be the active ingredient of Hoodia responsible for appetite suppression), but actually achieved the highest reduction in food intake. It is claimed to have a more efficient appetite suppression activity than of other Hoodia species, including Hoodia gordonii, which is the species most commonly used as a natural appetite suppressant (Aharon 2010).
4. Efficacy and Positive Consumer Perception -Landor et al. (2015) conducted a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled consumer trial to determine the efficacy and acceptance of a product consisting of the frozen aerial parts of Hoodia parviflora grown in Israel. The subjects were weighed and measured, and baseline body-mass index was determined. No moderate, severe or chronic adverse events were reported. The treatment group demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in measured quantitative parameters against the placebo and reported a positive perception of the product.
5. Non-Genotoxic – Lynch et al (2013) tested a dried powder preparation of H. parviflora in two genotoxicity tests recommended by recent European Safety Authority guidance and found it to be non-genotoxic.
6. Safe Intake Levels Established -The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) delivered a scientific opinion of the dried aerial parts of H. parviflora as a novel food (NF) in response to an application submitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97. The NDA found that the addition of the NF to foods as a food ingredient for the uses and use levels as proposed by the applicant would exceed intake levels considered safe in humans. However, the Panel considered that the NF is safe to be used as a food supplement at a maximum dose of 9.4 mg/day. The target population was adults.
Cultivation
Hoodia parviflora is cultivated in Israel for production of products for appetite suppression. No cultivation of this species in Africa has been reported.
We have grown small numbers of H. parviflora at our facilities in Frederick, Maryland and Hawaii for research purposes. At our facility in Hawaii this species grows rapidly in containers. Plants grown outdoors have a higher probability of loss from soft rot, and virtually all of the plants will be attacked by fungal diseases including athracnose, canker and bud rot. Fungicides must be applied frequently. They may prevent new infections but do not control established infections. These diseases are transmitted and progress faster during rainy weather. Plants grown indoors are rarely affected even though the humidity levels are the same as outdoors. We have concluded that this species can only be grown in greenhouses that prevent rain contact with the plants.
 Hoodia parviflora, F1 & F2 Cultivars Juvenile Plants Growing Outdoors |
 Hoodia parviflora Mature F1 Plants in Greenhouse Cultivation |
Propagation Methods
Seeds. Hoodia parviflora is easily propagated from seeds.
Cuttings: Hoodia can be propagated from cuttings but we do not recommend the practice as it is much more difficult than production of true cactus (plants in the family cactaceae) from cuttings. Hoodia cuttings are highly subject to rot and we have been unable to get some species and varieties to root. Sometimes a callus forms over the cutting wound and this must be excised to allow root growth. Typically, the majority of cuttings fail to survive and root. Plants grown from cuttings have fewer roots, less vigor, and unstable form, often with few stems from the base and top heavy branching from the main stem.
Improved Cultivars
We are continuing work on developing new cultivars of this species. In the early years of our research program we obtained many specimens of H. parviflora from growers in Germany and the United States. Most of these grew rapidly at our Maryland and Hawaii facilities but eventually all but one plant succumbed to bacterial soft rot and/or anthracnose infections before seeds were produced.
From cuttings taken from the sole survivor seeds were eventually produced. These were from open pollination when only this plant or other species of Hoodia were in bloom so either the parent plant that produced seeds was self-fertile, or the seeds are putative hybrids. The flowers of all plants grown from seeds in subsequent generations differ markedly from parent in shape and form, and sometimes have colors not common in the wild type. They are also arranged much less densely on the stems than those of the parent plant.
 Hoodia parviflora Cultivar HPAR-NC1 F1 Flower |
 Flower and Developing Follicles of Hoodia parviflora Cultivar HPAR-NC1 F1 |
 Hoodia parviflora, Flower of Cultivar HPAR-NC3 |
This is our new Hoodia parviflora cultivar HPAR-NC2 that will be named “Marvelle”. This is a putative hybrid of H. parviflora and another species, probably H. gordonii. The flower color is not typical of H. parviflora. This cultivar grows rapidly and has heavy, thick stems. It has low resistance to bacterial soft rot when grown outdoors. The flower color is attractive and they have less odor than flowers of H. parviflora. These properties may make it desirable for growing as an ornamental plant.
 Flower of Hoodia parviflora Hybrid Cultivar “Marvelle” |
 Flower Center of Hoodia parviflora Hybrid Cultivar “Marvelle” |
Pests and Diseases
This species is highly susceptible to bacterial soft rot and fungal diseases when grown outdoors. All of the of our F1 and F2 generation plants grown outdoors have been eventually lost to disease. The very limited genetic diversity of these lines probably reduces our chances of developing cultivars with significantly higher disease resistance. However, we are now growing F2 and F3 generations of these plants in a greenhouse. They have reached harvestable size with no losses to disease.
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Hoodia parviflora, F1 & F2 Cultivars Juvenile Plants Growing Outdoors |
Hoodia parviflora Mature F1 Plants in Greenhouse Cultivation |
Refer to the sections of this website on diseases and pests of Hoodia species (currently under development)
Invasiveness Potential
There are no references indicating that this species is invasive:
Global Invasive Species Database. This species was not found on the database (ISSG 2019).
Hawai‘i-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment (HPWRA). We requested the HPWRA program to assess the invasiveness potential of Hoodia parviflora since there were no records of prior introductions in Hawaii. HPWRA completed the assessment on April 25, 2015 and and assigned it an assessment score of -0-, indicating Low risk (HPWRA 2019). The detailed assessment data is available (Chimera 2015e). It has been designated as a Pono Plant, a good choice for planting in Hawai‘i.
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Plants and Seeds for Sale
Improved Cultivars
We offer plants and seeds of improved varieties of this species (cultivars) that we have developed from online store. The species name listed for these cultivars is that associated with the seed-bearing plant from which the seeds or plants were grown. Because all of our plants are open pollinated in most cases we cannot definitively determine of the pollinator and all of our cultivars may have hybridized with other species.
Restrictions on Use of Cultivars. Sales and samples of plants, cuttings and seeds of this species and its cultivars are subject to our Hawaiian Hoodia™ License Agreement. All patent rights are reserved by Sustainable Bioresources, LLC. The transfer of Improved Cultivars as defined in the agreement from the buyer to other parties, and all commercial propagation or other commercial uses of these cultivars is prohibited.
We welcome inquiries about potential arrangements for commercial licensing and/or distributorships of our Hawaiian Hoodia™ products.
Please Contact Us for additional information.
Organic Status. All of the live plants of these cultivars offered for sale are Certified Naturally Grown (CNG), produced following organic farming standards of the CNG program.
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Availability and Ordering Information
Nursery Stock. Live plants of this species are available for purchase from our online store.
Photos taken in December 2019 of typical plants of this species that were offered for sale then are shown below. The seedlings in the first photo were approximately one year old when the photo was taken and were in 5” pots. The second photo shows a plant of about two years old near harvestable size. In early 2022 we will be offering much larger three year old mature plants of harvestable size, and later in the year new seedlings of this species are expected to be available for sale.
All of the plants for sale are Certified Nursery Plants (CNP), grown in the Hawaii Department of Agriculture certified nursery areas of our facility.
 Seedlings of Hoodia parviflora, Improved Cultivars |
 Maturing Hoodia parviflora, Improved Cultivar |
Seeds. We offer seeds of specific cultivars of from this species and mixtures of seeds from multiple seed lots from our online store. Each lot consists of seeds from one follicle (two horns), produced from one pollination event and should have similar genetics. Seeds from specific seed lots are also available and there are usually from 100 – 400 seeds in each lot. Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing these or more information.
Cuttings. Currently, we do not offer cuttings of this species.
Shipping Information
Domestic Shipments. Hoodia plants and cuttings from our certified nursery, and seeds can be shipped to all states and territories of the U.S except California. We are no longer shipping plants or cuttings to California. All plants will be shipped bare root.
International Shipments. All shipments of Hoodia plants, cuttings, seeds and materials derived from Hoodia plants to destinations outside the U.S. must comply with the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These shipments will be made under the provisions of our CITES Master File number 44411D, Original Permit/Certificate number 19US52992D/9 and single use permits issued to us by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We must obtain a single use permit for each shipment, regardless of its size. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
Inspections, import permits and issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates may also be necessary, and documentation requirements vary by country. Advance payment of fees may be required for permits, certificates, inspections and related services. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Sale for additional information. International customers are advised to contact us for before placing orders for any of our Hoodia products as the requirements and logistics for shipments from Hawaii are currently unsettled.
References
Aharon R. 2010. Appetite suppressant. United States Publication Patent Application US 2010/0316736 A1. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/a5/4e/38/d113e6bb59d807/US20100316736A1.pdf [Accessed 15 November 2019].
Bruyns PV. 2006a. Chapter 4. Hoodia. In: Stapeliads of Southern Africa and Madagascar, Vol. I Hatfield, South Africa: Umdaus Press., 92-129.
Chimera, C. 2015e. Assessment for Taxon: Hoodia parviflora. https://plantpono.org/wp-content/uploads/Hoodia-parviflora.pdf [Accessed 29 October 2019].
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). 2019a. Appendices I, II, and III valid from 4 October 2017. https://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php [accessed 28 October 2019].
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). 2019b. Appendices I, II, and III valid from 4 October 2017. Annotation #9. https://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php [Accessed 28 October 2019].
ESFA (European Food Safety Authority) 2017. Safety of dried aerial parts of Hoodia parviflora as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97. ESFA Journal 15(10): e05002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.5002 .
FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2019. Endangered Species Home. Search Endangered Species Database. https://www.fws.gov/endangered/ [accessed 27 October 2019].
GISD (Global Invasive Species Database) 2018. http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/search.php [December 2018].
Harcum H. 2019. E-mail communication, July 3, 2019 from Heather Harcum, Permits Biologist, International Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Falls Church, Virginia.
HPWRA (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment). 2019. Hawai‘i Pacific Weed Risk Assessment Site. https://sites.google.com/site/weedriskassessment/home [accessed 29 October 2019].
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). 2019. Version 2019-2. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [accessed 27 October 2019].
ISSG (Invasive Species Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission) 2019. Global Invasive Species Database. http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/ [accessed 25 October 2019].
Kew (Kew Royal Botanic Gardens). 2019i. Planta of the World Online. Hoodia parviflora N.E.Br. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:98349-1 [Accessed 17 November 2019].
Landor M, Benami A, Segev N, Loberant B. 2015. Efficacy and acceptance of a commercial Hoodia parviflora product for support of appetite and weight control in a consumer trial. J Med Food. 18(2):250-8. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2013.0178. Epub 2014 Dec 2.
Lynch B, Lau A, Baldwin N, Hofman-Hüther H, Bauter MR, Marone PA. 2013. Genotoxicity of dried Hoodia parviflora aerial parts. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 55: 272-278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.01.014.
NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute). Undated. Hoodia in Nambia. http://www.nbri.org.na/sites/default/files/Hoodia_booklet.pdf [accessed 29 October 2019].
Schippmann U. 2016. Plant Annotations in the CITES Appendices – Implementation Manual – Version 1.0. Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN) Federal Agency for Nature Conservation Konstantinstrasse 110, 53179 Bonn, Germany. https://cites.org/sites/default/files/ndf_material/Schippmann_Manual_of_Annotations_V1_2016.pdf [accessed 21 July 2019].
TPL (The Plant List) 2019. Hoodia parviflora N.E.Br. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2853064 [Accessed 15 November 2019]
This page was last updated on January 30, 2022.