Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifera subsp. var.	Drumstick tree, Horseradish tree, Ben oil tree
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	Moringaceae > Moringa oleifera var. ,

Moringa oleifera is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Moringa, which is the only genus in the family Moringaceae. It is an exceptionally nutritious vegetable tree with a variety of potential uses. The tree itself is rather slender, with drooping branches that grow to approximately 10 m in height. In cultivation, it is often cut back annually to 1 meter or less and allowed to regrow so that pods and leaves remain within arm's reach.

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Moringa oleifera, Lam. (M. pterygosperma, Gaertn.). Horse-Radish Tree. Ben. Small tree (reaching 25 ft.), with soft wood and corky bark, the young parts pubescent: lvs. mostly 3-pinnate, ¾-2 ft. long, all parts stalked: fls. whitish, stalked, fragrant, 1 in. across: pod often 1½ ft. long, 9-ribbed, bearing 3- angled, winged seeds. India, but now spontaneous in parts of the W. Indies.—The horse-radish tree is so named from the pungent taste of the root, which is sometimes eaten. The young fr. is also edible. The seeds (called bennuts) yield an oil which is more or less used in the arts. The tree is sometimes cult.in the extreme S. U. S.; it has been grown in S. Calif, for many years. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

As with all plants, optimum cultivation depends on producing the right environment for the plant to thrive. Malunggáy is a sun and heat-loving plant, and thus does not tolerate freeze or frost.

Propagation

In the Philippines, malunggáy is propagated by planting 1–2 m long limb cuttings, preferably from June to August. The plant starts bearing pods 6–8 months after planting, but regular bearing commences after the second year, continuing for several years. It can also be propagated by seeds, which are planted an inch below the surface and can be germinated year-round in well-draining soil.

Gallery

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Moringa oleifera. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Moringa oleifera QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
• http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/11/moringa.html