Moringa

Moringa
This article is about the genus. Moringa is also the common name of a particular species, Moringa oleifera
Moringa
Moringa ovalifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Moringaceae
Genus: Moringa
Adans.[1]
Type species
Moringa oleifera
Lam.[2]
Species

See text
Synonyms

Donaldsonia Baker f.
Hyperanthera Forssk.[1]

Moringa is the sole genus in the flowering plant family Moringaceae. The name is derived from the Tamil word murunggai (முருங்கை) or the Malayalam word muringa, both of which refer to M. oleifera.[3] It contains 13 species from tropical and subtropical climates that range in size from tiny herbs to massive trees.

The most widely cultivated species is Moringa oleifera, a multipurpose tree native to the foothills of the Himalayas in northwestern India and cultivated throughout the tropics.[4] M. stenopetala, an African species, is also widely grown, but to a much lesser extent than M. oleifera.

Moringa oleifera silviculture is being promoted as a means to combat poverty and malnutrition.[5] It grows quickly in many types of environments, and much of the plant is edible, including by livestock. The leaves contain all essential amino acids and are rich in protein, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and minerals.[4] Feeding the high protein leaves to cattle has been shown to increase weight gain by up to 32% and milk production by 43 to 65%.[5] The seeds contain 30 to 40% oil that is high in oleic acid, while degreased meal is 61% protein.[6] The defatted meal is a flocculant and can be used in water purification to settle out sediments and undesirable organisms.[7]

Species

References

  1. ^ a b "Genus: Moringa Adans.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1996-09-17. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?7807. Retrieved 2011-09-26. 
  2. ^ "Moringa Adans.". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40022823. Retrieved 2009-12-30. 
  3. ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Volume 3: M-Q. CRC Press. p. 1731. ISBN 9780849326776. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kaN-hLL-3qEC&dq. 
  4. ^ a b Janick, Jules; Robert E. Paull (2008). The Encyclopedia of Fruit & Nuts. CABI. pp. 509–510. ISBN 9780851996387. http://books.google.com/books?id=cjHCoMQNkcgC. 
  5. ^ a b "The Moringa Tree Moringa oleifera". Trees for Life International. http://www.treesforlife.org/documents/moringa/presentation/Moringa%20Presentation%20%28General%29%20screen.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-29. 
  6. ^ Schill, Susanne Retka (2008-05-14). "Multidimensional Moringa". Biodiesel Magazine. http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/2380/multidimensional-moringa/. Retrieved 2011-09-26. 
  7. ^ Schwarz, Dishna (June 2000). "Water Clarification using Moringa oleifera". Technical Information W1e (Gate Information Service). http://www.deutsch-aethiopischer-verein.de/Gate_Moringa.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-26. 
  8. ^ "Subordinate Taxa of Moringa Adans.". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.tropicos.org/NameSubordinateTaxa.aspx?nameid=40022823. Retrieved 2009-12-30. 

External links

Stub icon This Brassicales article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.