Moringa stenopetala

Moringa stenopetala
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Moringaceae
Genus: Moringa
Species: M. stenopetala
(Baker f.) Cufod.[1]
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Donaldsonia stenopetala Baker f. (basionym)
  • Moringa streptocarpa Chiov.

Moringa stenopetala, commonly called the cabbage-tree[1] (along with a number of other species), is a tree in the Moringa genus of flowering plants, native to Kenya and Ethiopia; it is now distinct in the wild in Ethiopia, though still grown there as a crop on the terraces built to conserve water high up the mountains.[1] It is a multipurpose tree producing edible leaves, seeds used for the purification of water, and traditional medicinal products.

History

The cabbage-tree was planted by agriculturalists on the complex system of terraces built high up in the Ethiopian Highlands, where they became domesticated and were bred to improve productivity, the taste of their leaves, and the size of their seeds. Since then, the improved trees have been introduced into other areas such as the Rift Valley.[3]

Description

The cabbage-tree is a small tree up to 12 m (39 ft), with a many-branched crown and sometimes with multiple trunks. The leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate, with about five pairs of pinnae and three to nine elliptic or ovate leaflets on each pinna. The fragrant flowers have creamy-pink sepals, white or yellow petals, and white stamens. The fruits are long reddish pods with a greyish bloom.[4]

Uses

M. stenopetala is mostly known for its importance as a nutritious vegetable food crop in the terraced fields of Konso, Ethiopia. In this way, it is similar to its Indian relative, Moringa oleifera.[5][6] It is also used for shading of Capsicum and Sorghum crops, as a companion plant;[1] and additionally in folk medicine.[1]

Another use is the clarification and purification of water to make it potable. A powder made by grinding the seeds is found to be more effective at coagulating substances in suspension than the seeds of the closely related horseradish tree (M. oleifera), which is used for this purpose in India.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5  Under its current treatment of Moringa stenopetala (from its basionym, Donaldsonia stenopetala), this species was published in Senckenbergiana Biologica 38: 407. 1957. GRIN (May 22, 1997). "Moringa stenopetala information from NPGS/GRIN". Taxonomy for Plants. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  2. ↑  The basionym of Moringa stenopetala, Donaldsonia stenopetala, was first described and published in Journal of Botany, British and Foreign 1896: 53. 1896. GRIN (June 28, 2002). "Donaldsonia stenopetala information from NPGS/GRIN". Taxonomy for Plants. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland: USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  3. ↑ Samia Al Azharia Jahn (1991). "The Traditional Domestication of a Multipurpose Tree Moringa stenopetala (Bak.f.) Cuf. in the Ethiopian Rift Valley". Ambio 20 (6): 244–247. JSTOR 4313833.
  4. ↑ "Moringa stenopetala: African Moringa". Seed People. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  5. ↑ "Birdlife Data Zone: Konso - Segen", Birdlife International website . Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "The Moringa Tree Moringa oleifera". Trees for Life International. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  7. ↑ Desa, Dian (1985). "Water purification with Moringa seeds". Waterlines 3 (4): 22–3. doi:10.3362/0262-8104.1985.019.

See also