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Moringa oleifera

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

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  • Botanical Name : Moringa oleifera Lam.
  • Synonyms : Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn.
  • Common Name : Saragvo, Drumstick, Horse Sadish Tree
  • Plant Family : Moringaceae
  • Plant Form : Tree
  • Occurrence (Sectors) : 1, 2, 4, 10, 15, 17, 19, 22, 26-30
  • Occurrence (Special Areas) : Ayurvedic Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra, Basan

About Moringa oleifera Plant :

  • Habit : A small, soft wood tree.
  • Leaves : Usually tripinnate, petiole thickened at the base, pinnae and pinnules opposite, deciduous with a gland at the base.
  • Inflorescence : Large Panicles.
  • Flowers :
    • White.Calyx cup-like, reflexed.
    • Petals 5, spathulate, veined, unequal.
    • Stamens 5, fertile, alternating with 5-7 staminodes, filaments hairy at the base.
    • Ovary stalked, hairy, oblong, style cylindrical.
  • Fruit : Capsules elongate, 9-ribbed slightly twisted. Seeds winged, 3-angled.
  • Flowering and Fruiting Time : September - December
  • Significance :
    • Cultivated everywhere for its edible fruits used as vegetable and roots as horse-radish.
    • From the seeds, oil of "Ben" used by watchmakers is produced.
    • The decoction of root bark is used as a fomentation to relieve pain of spasm.
    • The rot and bark are used to produce abortion.