Hoodia alstonii (N.E.Br.) Plowes

Many-stemmed often dense shrub up to 1 m tall and 0.5 m broad. Stems 0.1-1.0 m tall, 40-80 mm thick, erect, whitish grey-green; tubercles fused below middle into 20-22 obtuse angles along stem, each tipped by a stout sharp pale brown spine (6-)8-10 mm long. Inflorescences mostly in upper parts of stem, each with 1-8 flowers arising in time from short stumpy peduncle (<5 mm long); pedicel 1-2(-4) mm long, 0.5-1.0 mm thick; sepals 2.0-2.5 mm long, ±1 mm broad at base, ovate, acuminate. Corolla 10-18 mm diam., campanulate; outside pale greenish yellow to cream; inside bright yellow becoming whitish towards base, without papillae; tube 2-3(-4) mm deep, broadly conical; lobes (4-)6-8 mm long, 4-5 mm broad at base, spreading to ascending, ovate-deltate, acute, convex above from reflexed margins. Corona 2 mm tall, 2.5-3.0 mm broad, pale yellow, glabrous, raised on short stipe; outer lobes 1.0-1.5 mm long, erect, bifid at least to level of base of inner lobes into erect gradually tapering obtuse lobules; inner lobes ±0.5 mm long, adpressed to backs of anthers and usually exceeding them, oblong, obtuse.

Usually found on rocky outcrops, often in very inhospitable desert areas.

Plants can be grown by seed. They can also be grown by cuttings.