Moringa
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- This article is about the genus. Moringa is also the common name of a particular species, Moringa oleifera.
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 Moringa ovalifolia
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Moringa arborea |
Moringa is the only genus in the family Moringaceae. This genus comprises 13 species, which span a great range of life forms, from tiny herbs to massive trees, all from tropical and sub-tropical climates. The taxon name moringa comes from the Tamil/Malayalam word murungakkAi.[verification needed]
The most widely known species is Moringa oleifera, a multi-purpose tree thought to be native to northwestern India, which is what is commonly referred to when the name Moringa is used. This species is cultivated throughout the tropics. The African species Moringa stenopetala, is also widely grown, but to a much lesser extent than Moringa oleifera.
According to TreesForLife.org, Moringa oleifera has great potential in combatting extreme poverty and hunger. The nutritious leaves grow quickly, and in many types of environment, and can feed people as well as livestock and sanctuary animals. Surprisingly, the leaves contain a well balanced profile of the essential amino acids, which is rare for a plant.
According to Dr. K. Shaine Tyson of Rocky Mountain Biodiesel Consulting, the defatted meal contains 60% protein, 40% more than soy meal. The high protein leaves can be used as animal fodder and together with the defatted meals, have been shown to increase weight gain in animals by 32% and milk production by 42-55%. The defatted meal can also be used to purify water, settling out sediments and organisms.
Moringa can also provide oil for making biofuels. The seeds contain 30-50% oil, or 112-185 gal/acre/year. The oil contains 65-75% oleic acids and, unlike Jatropha oil, is beneficial for both humans and fuel.
Moringa is drought-resistant and can grow in a wide variety of poor soils, even barren ground, with soil pH between 4.5 and 9.0. The Moringa Oleifera species is said to have originated in the Himalayas, but although the current cultivars can withstand frost, they do not generally survive a hard freeze. It could probably be grown wherever oranges grow successfully.
Moringa holds promise as a sustainable crop which can benefit humans and animals nutritionally, economically and as an energy source.
[edit] External links
- Photos and information on all 13 species
- Church World Service Moringa Site
- Moringa en Español
- Purdue University: Moringa oleifera
- Trees for Life Moringa Site
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