CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

DRUMSTICK TREE

(Moringa oleifera (Lam))

Botanical name	: Moringa oleifera Lam
Synonym	: Moringa pterygosperma
Vernacular name	: Senjana/ drum stick tree
Family	: Moringaceae
About the Tree	: A medium sized , graceful, deciduous tree with sparse foliage, Often resembling a leguminous species at a distance, especially when in Flower, but immediately recognized when in fruiting season. The tree is indigenous to northwest India .It is widely distributed in India Egypt, Celon. Burma, Pakistan and Nigeria.
Height	: 8 to 12m
Bark	: Bark is dark grey, corky, soft, fissured, and glabrous.
Leaf	: Leaves are spirally arranged 25-45 cm long crowded at the end of branches long petiole incomplete tripinnate in rachises leaflet stalked ovate or obovate dull green on both the side
Flower	: Flowers produced throughout the year, are bisexual, oblique stalked united into erect and loose axillary panicles up to 15 cm long; individual flower stalks up to 12 mm long and very slender; 5 pale green sepals 12 mm long, finely hairy, 5 white petals, unequal, a little longer than the sepals; 5 stamens with anthers, 5 without; style slender, flowers very sweet smelling.
Fruits	: Fruit large and distinctive, usually Up to 20-45 cm long and 12 mm wide linear, obtusely trigonus (3- 4) angled with 2 grooves on each face, slightly constricted at intervals, gradually tapering to a point, light brown ribbed valves spongy and thick .It splits along each angle to expose the rows of rounded blackish oily seeds, each with 3 papery wing. Seeds are numerous globular about 1 cm in diameter.
Season	:
Medicinal Properties Peculiar Character	: Moringa is a highly valued plant. It has an impressive range of medicinal uses with high nutritional value. Different parts of this plant contain a profile of important minerals, and are a good source of protein, vitamins, beta-carotene, amino acids and various phenolics. The juice of the leaves is believed to stabilize blood pressure, the flowers are used to cure inflammations, the pods are used for joint pain, and the roots are used to treat rheumatism. : Fruits