Huernia hystrix

Huernia hystrix
	Growth form
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Huernia
Species:	H. hystrix
Binomial name
	Huernia hystrix; (Hook.f.) N.E.Br.
Synonyms
	List Ceropegia hystrix (Hook.f.) Bruyns; Ceropegia hystrix subsp. parvula (L.C.Leach) Bruyns; Huernia appendiculata A.Berger; Huernia hystrix var. parvula L.C.Leach; Stapelia hystrix Hook.f.; ;

Huernia hystrix, the porcupine huernia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to southeastern Africa.^[1]^[2] A succulent, it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[3]

Distribution

H. hystrix is extensively sold in Zulu markets throughout South Africa for its supposed medicinal and protective magical properties,^[4] and in Eswatini as an alleged aphrodisiac.^[5]

Extracts from its stem and leaves may contain chemicals with anti-inflammatory properties,^[6] It has been proposed as a treatment for people suffering from HIV/AIDS.^[7]

Habitation

It is highly drought-tolerant and grows well in pots, and so is a good species for ornamental xeriscaping.^[8]

Threat

Destructive whole-plant harvesting has led to concerns about its survival.^[9]

Propagation

Researchers at University of KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Garden have discovered multiple shoots can be propagated from a single explant by treatment with Murashige and Skoog medium + 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid + 6-Benzylaminopurine with 95% survival rates.^[6]

Subtaxa

The following subspecies are accepted:^[1]

Huernia hystrix subsp. hystrix – KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe
Huernia hystrix subsp. parvula (L.C.Leach) Bruyns – KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Provinces

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Huernia hystrix (Hook.f.) N.E.Br". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
^ "Huernia hystrix (Porcupine Huernia)". World of Succulents. 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2021. Common Names ... Toad Plant
^ "Huernia hystrix". The Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
^ Hutchings A, Scott AH, Lewis G, Cunningham AB (1996) Zulu medicinal plants. An inventory. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
^ Long, C. "Swaziland’s flora: siSwati names and uses." Swaziland National Trust Commission: Mbambane, Swaziland (2005).
^ ^a ^b Amoo, S. O.; Finnie, J. F.; Van Staden, J. (2009-03-01). "In vitro propagation of Huernia hystrix: an endangered medicinal and ornamental succulent". Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 96 (3): 273–278. doi:10.1007/s11240-008-9484-8. ISSN 1573-5044. S2CID 30950587.
^ US application 2004052868, Asiedu, William; Frederick, Asiedu & Manny, Ennin et al., "Composition treating for AIDS and associated conditions", published 2004-03-18 , since abandoned.
^ Al-Turki TA (2002) An initiative in exploration and management of plant genetic diversity in Saudi Arabia. In: Engels JMM, Ramanatha Rao V, Brown AHD, Jackson MT (eds) Managing plant genetic diversity. IPGRI, Rome, Italy, pp 339–349
^ Ndawonde, BG; Zobolo, AM; Dlamini, ET; Siebert, SJ (2007-07-01). "A survey of plants sold by traders at Zululand muthi markets, with a view to selecting popular plant species for propagation in communal gardens". African Journal of Range & Forage Science. 24 (2): 103–107. doi:10.2989/AJRFS.2007.24.2.7.161. ISSN 1022-0119. S2CID 83672511.

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[98774-1-1] "Huernia hystrix (Hook.f.) N.E.Br". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 10 April 2021.

[2] "Huernia hystrix (Porcupine Huernia)". World of Succulents. 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2021. Common Names ... Toad Plant

[3] "Huernia hystrix". The Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 10 April 2021.

[4] Hutchings A, Scott AH, Lewis G, Cunningham AB (1996) Zulu medicinal plants. An inventory. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

[5] Long, C. "Swaziland’s flora: siSwati names and uses." Swaziland National Trust Commission: Mbambane, Swaziland (2005).

[:0-6] Amoo, S. O.; Finnie, J. F.; Van Staden, J. (2009-03-01). "In vitro propagation of Huernia hystrix: an endangered medicinal and ornamental succulent". Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 96 (3): 273–278. doi:10.1007/s11240-008-9484-8. ISSN 1573-5044. S2CID 30950587.

[7] US application 2004052868, Asiedu, William; Frederick, Asiedu & Manny, Ennin et al., "Composition treating for AIDS and associated conditions", published 2004-03-18 , since abandoned.

[8] Al-Turki TA (2002) An initiative in exploration and management of plant genetic diversity in Saudi Arabia. In: Engels JMM, Ramanatha Rao V, Brown AHD, Jackson MT (eds) Managing plant genetic diversity. IPGRI, Rome, Italy, pp 339–349

[9] Ndawonde, BG; Zobolo, AM; Dlamini, ET; Siebert, SJ (2007-07-01). "A survey of plants sold by traders at Zululand muthi markets, with a view to selecting popular plant species for propagation in communal gardens". African Journal of Range & Forage Science. 24 (2): 103–107. doi:10.2989/AJRFS.2007.24.2.7.161. ISSN 1022-0119. S2CID 83672511.

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