Hoodia ruschii
Plant Family
Apocynacae (Formerly Asclepiadaceae), Subfamily Asclepiadoideae
Accepted Binomial Name
Hoodia ruschii Dinter
Synonymous Binomial Names
Ceropegia ruschii (Dinter) Bruyns
Common (Vernacular) Names
Queen of the Namib, African hats
Subspecies
No subspecies have been identified.
Plant Characteristics
Endemicity. This species has a small range, known only from the eastern flank of the Tiras Mountains in Namibia (NABR 2019, Bruyns 1993 and 2006a). It is known from one, possibly two, subpopulations with the extent of occurrence estimated at < 625 km² . Its distribution in these areas is scattered and the plants grow on steep granitic slopes among small bushes and rocks (Bruyns 1993 ND 2006A, Craven 2004B).
Growth Habit. Their form is typical of the genus. The plants are shrubs with many grey-green or brownish stems reaching a maximum height and diameter of about 0.5 meters. The stems are densely covered with sharp, hard spines.
Flowers. The flowers are medium sized, 2 – 4cm in diameter, saucer-shaped, deep red to red-brown and covered with papillae on the inside. They are often borne in dense patches on the upper parts of the stems, sometimes completely covering them.
 Hoodia ruschii in Hawaii |
 Hoodia ruschii Flower Buds |
 Hoodia ruschii Dense Inflorescence |
 Hoodia ruschii Flower Center |
Presumed Pure Species
 Hoodia ruschii with Beige Flower |
 Hoodia ruschii with Dark Maroon Flower |
Putative Hybrids
 Hoodia ruschii F1 Hybrid with Irregular Flowers |
 Hoodia ruschii FI Hybrid with Tan 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 apart releasing the seeds. As they are released a tuft of filament-like pappi opens and the seeds are disbursed by air currents.
 Hoodia ruschii Seed Horns |
Conservation Status
This species is not currently listed as endangered or threatened. 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:
Hoodia ruschii has been evaluated and categorized as a species of least concern (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2019b). It does not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (before 2001) conservation dependent.
U.S. Endangered Species Act Listing Status: This taxon not listed (FWS 2018).
Uses
No records of specific uses of this plant were found. It is highly floriferous and the flowers are intensely colored making it potentially appealing to gardeners.
It may have appetite suppressant properties but has not been previously grown for this purpose.
Cultivation
This species has been grown to a very limited extent for use as an ornamental.
Propagation Methods
Seeds. This species 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 have three cultivars of this species under development: HR-NC1, HR-NC2 and HR-NC3. Many specimens of this plant were acquired in the early phases of our research from Germany and United States suppliers. Most of these were lost to disease before they produced seeds. The three cultivars have somewhat different characteristics and appear to be descendants of a common ancestor so genetic variation among these may be very limited.
Cultivar HR-NC1
 Hoodia ruschii Cultivar HR-NC1 |
 Hoodia ruschii Cultivar HR-NC1 F1 Flower Center |
Cultivar HR-NC3
 Hoodia ruschii F1 Cultivar HR-NC3 Flower |
Pests and Diseases
Refer to the sections of this website on diseases and pests of Hoodia species (currently under development). This species is frequently infested by mealy bugs when grown indoors.
 Mealy Bugs on Hoodia ruschii |
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 ruschii since there were no records of prior introductions in Hawaii. HPWRA completed the assessment on May 6, 2005 and assigned it an assessment score of -2, indicating low risk (HPWRA 2019b). The detailed data used for the assessment is available (Chimera 2015g). 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 our 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 offered for sale then shown below. These seedlings were approximately one year old when the photos were taken and were in 5” pots. Some of these will be available for sale in early 2022 as mature plants. New seedlings are expected to be available later in the year.
All plants offered are Certified Nursery Plants (CNP), grown in the Hawaii Department of Agriculture certified nursery areas of our facility.
 Seedlings of Hoodia ruschii, Improved Cultivars |
Seeds. We offer seeds of specific cultivars of 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 will 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). 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
Bruyns, P.V. 1993. A revision of Hoodia and Lavrania (Asclepiadaceae – Stapelieae). Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 115(2):145-270. Cited in IUCN 2004.
Bruyns PV. 2006a. Chapter 4. Hoodia. In: Stapeliads of Southern Africa and Madagascar, Vol. I Hatfield, South Africa: Umdaus Press., 92-129.
Chimera, C. 2015g. Assessment for Taxon: Hoodia ruschii. https://plantpono.org/wp-content/uploads/Hoodia-ruschii.pdf [Accessed 21 November 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].
Craven, P. 2004b. Hoodia ruschii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T46821A11083749. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/46821/11083749 [accessed on 28 October 2019].
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 [accessed ## Month 2018].
Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment (HPWRA). 2019. Year Accessed. Genus species. https://sites.google.com/site/weedriskassessment/home [accessed 29 October 2019].
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). 2019k. Planta of the World Online. Hoodia ruschii Dinter. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:98352-1 [Accessed 17 November 2019].
NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute). Undated. Hoodia in Namibia. 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].
This page was last updated on January 30, 2022.