Hoodia herb, otherwise known as Hoodia Gordonii, belong to the Trichocaulon Subgroup of Succulent Asclepiad Genera. It is a succulent in the family Asclepiadaceae. It forms multi-stemmed clumps 45cm (18in) high and bears unpleasant-smelling, pale purple disc-shaped flowers 7.5-10cm (3-4in) in diameter.First found in semi-arid areas of South Africa. The San people, formerly known as bushmen, of the Kalahari eat the bitter-tasting plant to suppress their appetite and thirst when on long hunting expeditions. It is not a very common plant and it grows in the semi-deserts of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Angola and South Africa.