Hoodia juttae

The genus Hoodia is part of the group known as the stapeliads. These wonderful plants have succulent cylindrical stems and flowers that often are reminiscent of sea stars - but in the case of Hoodia, the five corolla lobes are fused into a "satelllte dish", as seen in the photos. The stapeliads are relaties of the milkweeds, and were long classified as members of the Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae), but now this whole family has been moved into the related Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae). So what was once the family Asclepiadaceae is now the subfamiy Asclepiadoideae. Hoodia juttae is native to southern Namibia, in southwestern Africa.

Hoodia mossamedensis (L.C.Leach) Plowes