HORSERADISH^TREE FAMILY (MORINGACEAE*) 



54. Reseda, horseradish-tree 



This ornamental planted tree is characterized 

 by: (1) featliery or fernlike foliage of 3-pinnately 

 compound leaves 1-1 V^ f^^t long composed of nu- 

 merous tliin elliptic leaflets 1/4-% inch long and 

 1/8-% inch broad; (2) many showy fragrant wiiite 

 flowers % inch or more across the 10 spreading 

 sepals and petals, sliglitly irregidar, in lateral clus- 

 ters 4-8 inches long; (:5) large, 3-angled, brown 

 seed capsules 7-14 inches long and %-l inch broad, 

 hanging down; and (4) roots with odor and taste 

 of horeeradish. 



A small deciduous tree to 3i) feet liigh and to 10 

 inches in trunl< diameter, with spreading brittle 

 branches. Tlie whitish-gray bark is smooth'sh, 

 fissured and warty or corky, becoming rough. The 

 twigs are finely liairy and green, becoming brown. 



The alternate leaves have slender, finely haiiy, 

 green and reddish-tinged axes, the lateral ones 

 paired. L-^aflets are paired except for terminal 

 one and liave minute stalks less than Vjo inch long. 

 The blades are rounded or blunt-pointed at apex 

 and sliort-pointed at liase, tlie edges not tootlied, 

 green and almost hairless on upper surface, and 

 paler and hairless beneath. 



Spreading or drooping flower clusters (pani- 

 cles) have many minutely hairy flowere on slender 

 hairy stalks. The basal cup (hypanthium) Vs 

 incli long and liroad bears 5 unequal white sepals 

 about 1/2 inch long; there are 5 unequal white petals 

 %-% inch long; 5 stamens alternating witli 5 

 smaller sterile stamens (staminodes) ; and pistil 

 of l-cel!ed ovary and slender style. 



The seed capsules with longitudinal ridges split 

 open along the 3 angles. There are many seeds 

 about 1 inch long, composed of 3 wliitish papei-y 

 wings around a dark brown rounded center 1/2 

 inch or less across. Flowering and fruiting 

 through most of the year. 



The soft wood is little used in Puerto Rico, but 

 the thick soft roots are a spicy condiment. It is 

 reported that the corky bai-k can be made into 

 mats. Root extracts, bark, and gum exuding from 

 the trinik have been employed in some places in 

 medicines. 



Ben oil, elsewhere extracted commercially from 

 tlie seeds of tliis and a related species, is a lubricant 

 for watches and other fine mechanisms and a base 



Moringa oleifera Lam.* 



for perfumes and is said to be both edible and 

 medicinal. In some localities the young pods, 

 young leaves, and flowers are eaten cooked like 

 stringbeans and greens. Leaves and twigs have 

 been cut as fodder in India. The flowers are a 

 source of honey. 



Grown chiefly as an ornamental and in fences 

 and hedges. The plants are propagated by seeds 

 and cuttings and coppice vigorously. Though 

 spectacular for the abundant white flowers and 

 long seed capsules, this irregiilarly shaped tree 

 with weak, easily broken branches is not so attrac- 

 tive when old. Moreover, in Puerto Rico it is very 

 susceptible to attack by termites and for this rea- 

 son not recommended as an ornamental. It is re- 

 ported that this tree is the only tree in gardens of 

 southern Florida that flowers every day of the 

 year. 



Widely planted for ornament and along road- 

 sides and escaping from cultivation in Puerto 

 Rico, especially in the coastal regions. Also in 

 Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and 

 Virgin Gorda. 



Range. — Native of East Indies, southeastern 

 Asia, and India, but now widely distributed 

 through the tropics. Planted and escaped or na- 

 turalized in southern Florida including Florida 

 Keys (planted also in southern California) and 

 throughout West Indies from Bahamas and Cuba 

 to Trinidad and Tobago and Curacao. Also from 

 Mexico to Peiai, Paraguay, and Brazil. 



Other common names. — ben, angela, jazmin 

 francos (Puerto Rico) ; moringa, palo de abejas, 

 libertad (Dominican Republic) ; paraiso f ranees 

 palo jeringa, ben (Cuba) ; paraiso de Espana, 

 paraiso (Central America) ; perlas, paraiso bianco 

 (Guatemala) ; teberinto, terebinto (El Salvador) ; 

 Jacinto (Panama) ; angela (Colombia) ; horse- 

 radish-tree, drumstick-tree (United States, Eng- 

 lish) ; maranga calalii (British Honduras) ; sai- 

 jhan, St. John (British Guiana) ; benzolivier, ben 

 oleifere (Haiti) ; maloko (Guadeloupe) ; ben- 

 boom, salaster, orengga, moriengo, brenolli, or- 

 selli (Dutch West Indies) ; peperwortelboom 

 (Surinam). 



Botanical stnontms. — Moringa moringa (L.) 

 Millsp., M. pterygoHpernia Gaertn. 



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