Moringa oleifera - Deciduous,Edible Fruit/Nuts,Flowering Tree,Fruits,Tree,Web page Navigation - Ben Oil tree, Benzoil tree, Drumstick Tree, Horseradishtree Page

Moringa oleifera, also known as the Drumstick Tree or Ben Oil Tree, is a fast-growing and drought-resistant tree with a variety of uses. Being exceptionally nutritious, it has the potential to improve nutrition, foster rural development, support sustainable landcare, and boost food security in developing countries. Its leaves and young seed pods are edible and can be used as a vegetable, while its parts are used in traditional herbal medicine. The tree is also used as forage for livestock, a natural anthelmintic, a micronutrient liquid, and possible adjuvant. Moringa is grown mainly in semiarid, tropical, and subtropical areas, corresponding to USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and is suitable for dry regions as it can be grown using rainwater without expensive irrigation techniques. Its seeds are dispersed by wind and water, making it easy to cultivate. Moringa is actively cultivated by the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan and grown in different countries worldwide. It is used for the relief of malnutrition, culinary purposes, and may have potential adverse effects. It is also used for water purification, as its seeds can purify water by removing impurities. Harvest is done manually with knives, sickles, and stabs with hooks attached, and pollarding, coppicing, and lopping or pruning are recommended to promote branching, increase production and facilitate harvesting. Moringa has no serious diseases in its native or introduced ranges and is not affected by any serious pests.