Moringa
|
|
| Moringa | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missing image Moringa-ovalifolia.jpg Moringa ovalifolia | ||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| Species | ||||||||||||
|
Moringa arborea |
Moringa is the only genus in the family Moringaceae. This genus comprises 13 species, all of which are trees that grow in tropical and sub-tropical climates. The taxon name moringa comes from the tamil word murungai. It is known to have a number of beneficial uses such as food and a basis for folk remedies.
As a food, the pods of the moringa tree, called drumsticks, are commonly consumed in India and some other Asian countries. The seeds are sometimes removed and eaten like peas or roasted like nuts. The cooked flowers are edible, and are said to taste like mushrooms. The roots are sometimes shredded and used as a condiment in the same way horseradish.
The leaves are highly nutritious, a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, calcium, iron and potassium. For this reason, interest is growing in the use of moringa in addressing malnutrition in developing areas of the world. Moreover it is fast growing and fairly drought resistant thus making it ideal for plating in arid regions and also to stave off encroaching desert sand.
The seeds may be crushed and used to purify water. They also contain a high-quality oil that can be used in cooking, cosmetics, and lubrication. The crushed seed cake can be used as a fertilizer.
The bark, sap, roots, leaves, seeds, oil and flowers are used in traditional medicine in several countries. In Jamaica, the sap is used for a blue dye.
External Links
- Church World Service Moringa Site (http://www.churchworldservice.org/moringa/index.html)
- Moringa Blog (http://www.moringablog.com)
- Trees for Life Moringa Site (http://www.treesforlife.org/moringa/Moringahome.htm)
- Moringa Home Page (http://www.mobot.org/gradstudents/olson/moringahome.html)
- Purdue University: Moringa oleifera (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Moringa_oleifera.html)