Drumsticktree (Moringa oleifera, Encycl. 1:398. 1785)

Family: Moringaceae

Author: Lam.

Bibliography: Encycl. 1:398. 1785

Year: 1785

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Moringa

Vegetable: True

Observations: NE. Pakistan to NW. India

Description

The Drumsticktree, scientifically known as Moringa oleifera, stands out as a remarkable plant native to the regions stretching from northeastern Pakistan to northwestern India. This versatile tree belongs to the Moringaceae family and has been cataloged in scientific literature as early as 1785, thanks to the work of Lam., who detailed its characteristics in his encyclopedia.

The Moringa oleifera thrives in subtropical and tropical climates, making it well-suited to the areas it originates from. This resilient tree is celebrated for its rapid growth and adaptability to various soil types, even those that are poor in nutrients or prone to erosion. Typically, it reaches heights of 10 to 12 meters and features a graceful, slender trunk crowned with a broad, umbrella-like canopy of feathery leaves.

One of the most distinctive features of the Drumsticktree is its seed pods, commonly referred to as “drumsticks,” which can grow up to 45 centimeters in length. These pods are not only a culinary delight in many cultures, valued for their tender, edible content, but also serve as a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, potassium, and calcium.

Beyond its pods, nearly every part of the Moringa oleifera tree holds nutritional or medicinal value. Its leaves, often consumed as a vegetable or made into a nutrient-dense powder, are packed with essential nutrients, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and protein, making them an important dietary supplement in many developing regions. The seeds can be pressed to extract oil, which is used both for cooking and in the cosmetic industry due to its moisturizing properties. Even the roots and flowers are utilized in traditional medicine for their various health benefits.

The Drumsticktree has earned its reputation as a “miracle tree” or “tree of life” not only due to its nutritional benefits but also for its role in sustainable agriculture and reforestation projects. Its ability to grow quickly and withstand harsh environments makes it an excellent choice for combating soil erosion and providing shade and shelter for other crops.

In summary, Moringa oleifera is a vital plant with a wide range of uses and benefits. Its adaptability and nourishing properties make it a staple in the regions of northeastern Pakistan to northwestern India, and its potential for contributing to global nutritional and environmental challenges is being increasingly recognized worldwide.

Common Names

Eng: horseradish tree, west indian ben, ben-oil-tree, ben-tree, benzolive-tree, drumstick-tree, drumsticktree, horseradish-tree, horseradishtree, moringa, drumstick tree, miracle tree, bènbòm, moringa tree, moringo, orselli
Deu: meerrettichbaum
Spa: moringa, arbol-de-las-pedras, ben, maranga, paraíso, paraíso blanco
Por: acácia-branca, moringa, moringueiro, muringueiro, quiabo-de-quina, árvore-rabanete-de-cavalo
Fra: ben ailée, ben-oléifere, moringa ailée, mouroungue, néverdié, pois quénique
Tha: marum
Msa: meringgai
Swa: mlonge, mronge, mzunze
Swe: pepparrotsträd
Pan: sohanjna
En: Drumsticktree, Horseradish-tree, Moringa, Ben-oil-tree, Benzolive-tree, West Indian ben, Horseradishtree, Benzoil Tree, Drumstick Tree, Horseradish Tree, Saijan, Horse-radish tree, Moringo, Kélor, Marongghi, Ben-tree, Drumstick-tree, Miracle Tree, Bènbòm, Moringa Tree, Orselli, Ben Oil Tree, Ben-oil tree, Coatli, Indian-mulberry, Oil of ben tree, The Horse-Radish Tree, Maranga, Horse radish tree
Af: Spinasieboom, Peperwortelboom
Am: ሽፈራው
Ar: Al-ban, بان زيتي
As: চজিনা
Bm: Nebadaye, Jirininbulu
Bn: সজনে
My: ဒန့်သလွန်
Ca: Arbre de l’oli de ben
Ny: Cham’mwanba
Zh: 辣木
Da: Behen
Dv: މުރަނގަ ތޮޅި
Fj: Sajina
Fi: Ceyloninmoringa
Fr: Moringa ailée, Mouroungue, Pois quénique, Ben ailée, Néverdié, Ben aile, Maloko, Nevedie, Pois quenique, Ben-oléifere, Mourongue
Ff: Gawari, Nebéday, Nebedayo
De: Meerrettichbaum
Ht: Benzoliv
Ha: Zogale
He: מורינגה מכונפת
Hi: सहजन
Hu: Lóretekfa
Id: Marunga, Kelor
Jv: Kélor
Kn: ನುಗ್ಗೆಕಾಯಿ
Ko: 모링가
Lg: Molinga
Ms: Meringgai, Pokok Kelor
Ml: മുരിങ്ങ
Mr: शेवगा
Ne: सैजन
Or: ସଜନା
Pa: ਸੁਹਾਂਜਣਾ, Sohanjna
Fa: ترب کوهی (درخت)
Pt: Moringueiro, Muringueiro, Moringa, Muingueiro, Quiabo-da-quina, Acácia-branca, Quiabo-de-quina, Árvore-rabanete-de-cavalo
Pt-br: Quiabo-da-quina
Ru: Моринга масличная
Sa: शिग्रुः
Sd: سوانجھڙو
Es: Paraíso, Paraíso blanco, Maranga, Palo de abjas, Paraíso francés, Moringa, Arbol-de-las-pedras, Ben
Su: Kélor
Sw: Mronge, Mzunze, Mlonge
Sv: Pepparrotsträd
Tl: Malunggay
Zh-tw: 辣木
Tg: Бон
Ta: Murungai, முருங்கை
Te: మునగ
Th: Marum, มะรุม
Ts: Muringa
Uk: Моринга масляниста
Vi: Chùm ngây
Wo: Benaile, Boom, Nebedayo, Sap-sap

Synonyms

• Hyperanthera decandra (Willd.)
• Guilandina moringa (L.)
• Hyperanthera moringa ((L.) Vahl)
• Moringa nux-eben (Desf.)
• Moringa robusta (Bojer)
• Hyperanthera pterygosperma (Oken)
• Anoma moringa ((L.) Lour.)
• Moringa domestica (Buch.-Ham.)
• Moringa octogona (Stokes)
• Moringa erecta (Salisb.)
• Moringa edulis (Medik.)
• Moringa amara (Durin)
• Moringa sylvestris (Buch.-Ham.)
• Moringa parvifolia (Noronha)
• Moringa zeylanica (Pers.)
• Moringa pterygosperma (Gaertn.)
• Moringa polygona (DC.)
• Moringa moringa ((L.) Millsp.)

Distribution

• India (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Aldabra (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Djibouti (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Laccadive Is. (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Mali (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mozambique Channel I (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Niger (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• Somalia (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Mar 9, 2019 by Nathalie Duchoquet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 20, 2016 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 19, 2018 by Hugues Cochard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2015 by EOL − Cheryl Harleston (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 27, 2021 by Dofra Elizé Diarrassouba (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 23, 2022 by Keerthan Machaiah (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 31, 2019 by henriette DA SILVA (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 30, 2019 by briones oscar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 5, 2022 by gunalan v (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 27, 2019 by Jérôme Boissiere (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jan 15, 2022 by Marwan Ghajar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2019 by lassine Sidibé (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2021 by Rahali Said (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 27, 2019 by Jérôme Boissiere (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2021 by Youkpo Barthélemy Oréga (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 24, 2019 by Eldrick Alexavier Fuentes (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2022 by Raphael Botha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 30, 2021 by Lisa Ani (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2022 by Tef MONTASSIER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 15, 2022 by Marwan Ghajar (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Jan 8, 2021 by Magdalene Fawedikumo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 19, 2022 by Marwan Ghajar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2021 by Louise-Zoé JACQUES-SEBASTIEN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 23, 2022 by Keerthan Machaiah (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 15, 2022 by Marwan Ghajar (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jan 19, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Céline PIRAT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 15, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Céline PIRAT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 7, 2021 by Gi Gillian (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 9, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Céline PIRAT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 3, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Céline PIRAT (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3054181)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:584736-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Moringa oleifera Lam.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Shrub, Tree

Growth