Common Name:

General Information

Moringa ovalifolia is a deciduous tree, or sometimes tree-like shrub, with a sparsely branched crown. A bottle tree, with a thick bole and swollen roots, it usually grows 2 - 6 metres tall, exceptionally to 10 metres, with a thick bole that is up to 1 metre in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southwest Africa - southern Angola and Namibia

Habitat

Rocky slopes, or sometimes limestone plains, in dry savannah or in subdesert to desert regions[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of the arid and semi-arid tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 600 metres. Although it requires little water, the tree can cope with quite a lot of rain[]. It cannot tolerate frost[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Succeeds in most soils, so long as they are well drained.
Young trees are fairly fast growing, but is best grown in areas where there is a distinct dry period during the cool season[].

Edible Uses

Root. A horseradish like flavour, it is used as a flavouring in foods[].

Leaves[].

Fruit[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in a sandy mixture and cover the seed lightly with sand. Germination is fast and the seedlings grow rapidly. Transplant to individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle[].
Cuttings

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