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Scientific Name | Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne. |
Higher Classification | Dicotyledons |
Family | APOCYNACEAE |
Synonyms | Hoodia albispina N.E.Br., Hoodia bainii Dyer, Hoodia barklyi Dyer, Hoodia burkei N.E.Br., Hoodia husabensis Nel, Hoodia langii Oberm. & Letty, Hoodia longispina Plowes, Hoodia pillansii N.E.Br., Hoodia rosea Oberm. & Letty, Hoodia whitesloaneana Dinter ex A.C.White & B.Sloane |
Common Names | Bitterghaap (a), Bobbejaanghaap (a), Jakkalsghaap (a), Muishondghaap (a), Wildeghaap (a) |
National Status |
Status and Criteria | Data Deficient - Insufficient Information |
Assessment Date | 2008/10/02 |
Assessor(s) | D. Raimondo, R. Wynberg, D. Newton & J.E. Victor |
Justification | A widespread species, EOO 850,000 km² that has undergone decline since 2001 as a result of indiscriminate harvesting for its appetite suppressant properties. International and national demand was particularly high between 2004 and 2006 and as a result of the high economic value of this species even remote areas of its distribution range are suspected to have been harvested. Unfortunately data do not exist to quantify the degree of decline to the population and as this species is widespread and can be locally common it is not possible to estimate overall population decline. Research on population recovery post harvesting and degree of impact of the harvesting over the past 10 years is required before this species can be accurately assessed. |
Distribution |
Endemism | Not endemic to South Africa |
Provincial distribution | Free State, Northern Cape, Western Cape |
Range | Namibia, Botswana, Angola and the dry margins of the summer rainfall region of South Africa. |
Habitat and Ecology |
Major system | Terrestrial |
Major habitats | Tanqua Escarpment Shrubland, Hantam Karoo, Bushmanland Inselberg Shrubland, Northern Knersvlakte Vygieveld, Northern Upper Karoo, Upper Karoo Hardeveld, Gamka Karoo, Bushmanland Basin Shrubland, Kalahari Karroid Shrubland, Bushmanland Arid Grassland, Western Gariep Hills Desert, Eastern Gariep Rocky Desert, Tanqua Wash Riviere |
Description | Occurs in a wide variety of arid habitats from coastal to mountainous, also on gentle to steep shale ridges, found from dry, rocky places to sandy spots in riverbeds. |
Threats |
| This species has undergone severe decline since 2001 as a result of harvesting for its appetite suppressant properties. International and national demand was particularly high in between 2004 and 2006. At this time the price range between R500 and R1200 per kilogram, as a result of the very high value of this species we suspect that even remote areas of its distribution range were harvested (Wynberg and Newton pers. comm.). Unfortunately data do not exist to quantify the decline the population. As a result of a decrease in demand for Hoodia internationally and the strict enforcement of new legislation to protect this species wild harvesting has declined in South Africa. |
Population |
Population trend | Unknown |
Assessment History |
Taxon assessed |
Status and Criteria |
Citation/Red List version | | Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne. | Data Deficient | Raimondo et al. (2009) | | Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne. | Not Threatened | Hilton-Taylor (1996) | | Hoodia barklyi Dyer | Indeterminate | Hall et al. (1980) | | Hoodia pillansii N.E.Br. | Indeterminate | Hall et al. (1980) | | Hoodia albispina N.E.Br. | Vulnerable | Hall et al. (1980) | |
Bibliography |
Bruyns, P.V. 2005. Stapeliads of southern Africa and Madagascar. (Vol. 1, pp. 1-330). Umdaus Press, Pretoria.
Goldblatt, P. and Manning, J.C. 2000. Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa. Strelitzia 9. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. and Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened plants of southern Africa. South African National Scienctific Programmes Report 45. CSIR, Pretoria.
Hilton-Taylor, C. 1996. Red data list of southern African plants. Strelitzia 4. South African National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Raimondo, D., von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. and Manyama, P.A. 2009. Red List of South African Plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
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Citation |
| Raimondo, D., Wynberg, R., Newton, D. & Victor, J.E. 2008. Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version . Accessed on 2025/05/14 |
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