MORINGACE^:. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 65. 



MORINGA. 



216. M. aptera Gcertn. ii. 315. DC. prodr. ii. 478. Decaisne 

 in ann. sc. n. s. iv. 203. t. 6. M. zeylanica Delile ft. eg. Ba- 

 lanus myrepsica Belon, obs. 126. (ed. fr. 1553). Sennaar in 

 Upper Egypt ; Palestine ; cultivated at Cairo. 



A tree resembling a willow. Petioles leafless, long, deflexed, grace- 

 ful, with 3 pair of similar opposite petiolules, having smooth stipitate 

 glands between the pairs ; leaflets in very young plants obovate, or 

 oblong, obtuse, glaucous. Fruit obtusely triangular, furrowed, torulose, 

 rostrate. Seeds roundish, or somewhat 3-cornered, turbinate, wingless. 

 From the seed is obtained by pressure the oil of Ben, much 

 used by perfumers as the basis of various scents, and by watchmakers, 

 because it does not readily freeze. The seeds are acrid and have been 

 employed in fevers and also as rubefacients. 



217. The Mouringon of Rheede vi. f. 11 or Moringa ptery- 

 gosperma, is commonly cultivated in India for the leaves, flowers, 

 and tender seed vessels, which are eaten by the natives in their 

 curries. The seeds do not appear to be pressed for oil. Decaisne. 



103 



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