104 



PHILIPPINE RESINS, GUMS, AND OILS 



leaves are alternate, pointed at the tip, and frequently have the 

 petiole attached within the margin. The flowers are whitish 

 and about 1 centimeter wide. 



This species is distributed from Luzon to Mindanao, but is 

 apparently not common. 



Family MORINGACEAE 



Genus MORINGA 

 MORINGA OLEIFERA Lam. Malunggai or Horse-radish TREE. 



Local names: Arunggdi (Pangasinan) ; balunggdi (Cuyo Islands); ka- 

 lamunggdi (Misamis) ; kaliinggdi (Camarines) ; kamalunggdi (Mindoro) ; 

 kamalunggi (Pampanga) ; vutlugdi (Culion Island) ; maliinggdi (Tarlac, 

 Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, Rizal, Laguna, Manila, Batangas, Tayabas, 

 Mindoro, Capiz, Zamboanga) ; marunggdi (Ilocos Norte and Sur, Abra) ; 

 maronggoi (Zambales). 



BEN OIL 



The root of this species has a taste somewhat like that of 

 horse-radish and in India is eaten by Europeans as a substitute 

 for it. The wood, when fresh, has a like taste and odor. This 

 species yields seeds from which ben oil is obtained. 



The oil is said to be used for salads and culinary purposes, 

 and to equal the best Florence oil as an illuminant. 



According to the bulletin of the Imperial Institute:* 



The oil is particularly valuable for ointments since it can be kept for 

 almost any length of time without undergoing oxidation. This property, 

 together with the absence of colour, smell and taste, renders it peculiarly 

 adapted for use in the "enfleurage" process of extracting perfumes. 



The seeds of Moringa oleifer^a consist of about 8 per cent of 

 husks and 92 per cent of kernels. The shelled kernels yield 

 about 36 per cent of ben oil, which is obtained by expression. 

 Table 10 shows the constants of cold- and hot-pressed oil obtained 

 from Nigerian ben seeds. f Analyses of the oil cake which is 

 left after expelling the oil from the ben seeds are given in 

 Table 11. 



Table 10. — Constants of ben oil. 



* Bulletin of the Imperial Institute. Volume 2 (1904), page 118. 

 t Bulletin of the Imperial Institute. Volume 6, 1908, page 359. 



