Botanical Description
Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) also known as the Horse-radish Tree is a small tree whose maximum height barely reaches 10 meters. Its timber is soft with a white coloration while its bark is a light grey and corky. Its leaves are distinct as they are tripinnately compound, the leaves are arranged in an alternating phyllotaxy. Its leaflets are small and are relatively thin, each is ovate or elliptic in shape and no more than 2 centimeters in length at best. Its florets are borne on a paniculate inflorescence, each floret is white and fragrant. These flowers would eventually develop into a fruit that varies in size from 15 to 30 centimeters, the fruit is a 3-sided capsule containing multiple 3-sided seeds with papery appendages.
Uses:
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Flowers, pods, and leaves are eaten as vegetables. The seeds can be boiled and eaten in a similar fashion to peanuts.
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The roots can be used as a substitute to horseradish.
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The leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, asthma, and wounding.
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The leaves are also eaten as a supplement, they are said to aid in the production of breastmilk.
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The flowers yield an oil which is used for making ointments, relieving inflammation, perfumery, and even as a light source.