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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Genus: Moringa

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid II > Order: Brassicales > Family: Moringaceae

Thirteen species, native to tropical and subtropical regions. One species is native to southern Africa, another is naturalised and an additional three species are cultivated in the region.

Species native to southern Africa

List from Plants of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI).

Moringa ovalifolia

A succulent tree, native to Namibia.

 

Species naturalised in southern Africa

List from Flora of Zimbabwe.

Moringa oleifera (Horse-radish tree, Ben nut, Asparagus bean tree)

Native to northwestern India and cultivated in southern Africa. It has been recorded as a rare escape in the northern Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. See Wikipedia and Flora of Zimbabwe.

 

Other species, cultivated in southern Africa

List from Glen (2002).

Moringa drouhardii (Marosirana, Bottle tree)

Native to Madagascar. See Wikipedia

 

Moringa hildebrandtii (Maroserana, Hildebrandt's moringa)

Native to Madagascar. See Wikipedia

 

Moringa stenopetala

Native to tropical Africa.

 

Links

Publications

  • Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.