Immature green pods of the Moringa are eaten as a vegetable. They are called “drumstick”, which is why the tree is known as Drumstick tree. Also the leaves are edible and sold as vegetables. Many parts of the tree are used as medicines.
Names
Scientific
Moringa oleifera
Synonym
Guilandina moringa
Moringa polygona
Moringa pterygosperma
English
Ben oil tree
Benzoil tree
Drumstick
Drumstick tree
Horseradish tree
Moringa
West Indian Ben
Spanish
Moringa
French
Ben ailé
Moringa
German
Meerrettichbaum
Pferderettichbaum
Trommelstockbaum
Taxonomy
Order
Brassicales
Family
Moringaceae
Genus
Moringa
Species
Moringa oleifera (Drumstick tree)
Basic information and facts
Origin:
Drumstick tree originates from Northern India and Pakistan.
Distribution:
This tree is now found throughout the tropics, often in home gardens.
Uses:
The tree has many uses, but is often used as a vegetable. Young fruits are eaten, but also leaves and flowers are cooked or used in soups. Twigs and leaves are also used as fodder. Almost all parts of the tree are used for medicinal purposes, for example as a disinfectant. Seeds are used to purify water.
Crop categories
Fruit vegetables
Leaf vegetables
Minor crops
Podded vegetables
Subtropical crops
Tropical crops
Vegetables
Pictures
Drumstick tree fruits marketed
Buton Island Indonesia
(Copyright by photographer)
Drumstick tree leaves marketed
Buton Island Indonesia
(Copyright by photographer)