Moringa

Adanson

Fam. Pl. 2: 318, 579. 1763.

Etymology: Tamil murungai, twisted pod, alluding to young fruit
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 168.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA7 P25 Moringa oleifera pg 169.jpegMoringa oleifera
Carica papaya
Floerkea proserpinacoides
Barbara Alongi
Linny Heagy
Barbara Alongi

Trees or shrubs, [massive pachycauls, baobab-like with water-storing trunk], slender-trunked. Leaves: stipules with nectaries at growing tip; rachis articulation with stalked glands; [1-pinnate] (2–) 3–4 (–5) -pinnate; leaflet blade membranous [subcoriaceous], [lanceolate, oblanceolate, linear] round or oval, venation sometimes conspicuous abaxially, apex glandular, surfaces [pubescent] puberulent or glabrous. Flowers: parts usually with hairs forming a barrier distal to the nectariferous hypanthium; 1 sporangium initiated in anther ontogeny. Capsules 2-valved, often constricted between seeds. Seeds [1] 2–3 cm, winged [not winged], sometimes with spongy seed-coat, shed by gravity. x = 11.

Distribution

Introduced; Asia (Bangladesh), Asia (India), Asia (Oman), Asia (Pakistan), Asia (Saudi Arabia), Asia (Yemen), sw, ne Africa, Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar), also pantropically

Discussion

Species 13 (1 in the flora).

Little is known about breeding systems in Moringa; M. longituba Engler appears incapable of self-pollination, and flowers with sterile anthers have been reported in M. concanensis Nimmo ex Dalzell & Gibson. All species are used medicinally locally; M. stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufodontis is used as a leaf vegetable in northwestern Kenya and southwestern Ethiopia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

... more about "Moringa"
bisporangiate +  and monothecal +
Mark E. Olson +
Adanson +
constricted +
Asia (Bangladesh) +, Asia (India) +, Asia (Oman) +, Asia (Pakistan) +, Asia (Saudi Arabia) +, Asia (Yemen) +, sw +, ne Africa +, Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar) +  and also pantropically +
Tamil murungai, twisted pod, alluding to young fruit +
(2-)3-4(-5)-pinnate +
3-carpellate +
distinct +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (?) +
globular +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
distinct +
erect;pendent +
glabrous +  and puberulent +
Moringa +
Moringaceae +
shrub +, slender-trunked +  and tree +
puberulent +  and glabrous +