Moringa ovalifolia
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Moringa ovalifolia |
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| Dinter & A. Berger |
Moringa ovalifolia is a species of plant in the genus Moringa from the monogeneric family of the Bennuss family(Moringaceae). The botanical name refers to the oval partial leaves of the species.
description
Moringa ovalifolia is a tree 2 to 6 m high. The succulent , strongly swollen and soft woody ( pachycaule ) trunk reaches a diameter of 1 m, which tapers upwards like a bottle (" bottle tree "). Its bark is smooth and pale gray. Each leaf is double pinnate with five to seven pairs of leaflets and seven to nine pairs of partial leaves per leaflet. With 2–5 × 1.4–4 cm large partial leaves, the entire leaf structure is approximately 50–80 × 40–60 cm. The almost 1 cm long stalked partial leaves are oval with heart-shaped bases, glabrous on the upper side and tomentose on the lower side . The stipules form 3 mm long, sickle-shaped glands .
The inflorescence is a panicle about 40 to 50 cm long . The only weakly zygomorphic flowers are short (2 mm) stalked. The sepals are petal-like, about 4 × 1 mm in size and white with green bases. The white petals are 4–6.5 mm long. Alternating with the five stamens are five staminodes . As is typical in the Donaldsonia section , the flower cup is short, cup-shaped and the ovary is on top. The hanging, triangular capsule fruits are about 20-25 × 2-2.5 cm in size. Their brown seeds are about 1 cm tall and three-winged.
distribution
The species occurs from central Namibia ( Etoscha pan and Namib-Naukluft Park ) to southwestern Angola and is thus isolated from the other species of the genus. It usually grows in very rocky terrain and on stony slopes, in Namibia in the so-called "fairy tale forest" of the Etosha National Park also on the plains.
cultivation
The tree is often planted in well-drained soils on the coast and at low altitudes up to 500 meters. The species is relatively common in succulent collections. A plant grown from seeds soon forms a thickened trunk with a bulbous root and is suitable for being grown into a bonsai .
use
The leaves and still green fruits of Moringa ovalifolia are popular as vegetables and as an addition to curries . The behen oil found in the seeds has a wide range of applications: It is used for the preparation of salads, for skin care, but also for soap production, as a lubricant for machines and in the textile and cosmetics industry.
literature
- Gordon Douglas Rowley: Caudiciform and pachycaul succulents. Pachycauls, bottle-, barrel- and elephant-trees and their kin: A collector's miscellany. Strawberry Press, 1987.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Najma Dharani: Field Guide to Common Trees & Shrubs of East Africa , Struik Nature, 2011, ISBN 1770078886
Web links
- Photo of a tree on Flickr
- Photo of the young, still incompletely developed leaf on Flickr What looks like a branch with leaves is actually a single leaf, pinnate into partial leaves.
- Moringa ovalifolia in the “fairytale forest” , University of Hamburg
- Moringa ovalifolia . In: S. Dressler, M. Schmidt, G. Zizka (Eds.): African plants - A Photo Guide. Senckenberg, Frankfurt / Main 2014.