Hoodia pilifera subsp. pilifera new growth

Green, new stem growth was seen on this Hoodia pilifera subsp. pilifera plant southwest of Oudtshoorn in May.

New spines emerging with the stem ridge tubercles in the centre on top, retain their dark purple colouring for a much shorter time than the stems remain green. Most of the green stem area already has pale spines or no spines, as some break off soon when dry.

Flowers of this plant are sometimes distorted by the spines around and below them, as the pedicels are short (Frandsen, 2017; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iNaturalist).