Moringa oleifera Lam.

Plants 1-10 m, to 40 cm diam. Roots tuberous when young, woody with age. Bark pale gray or tan, smooth or finely rugose. Stems often canelike, becoming pendent with age, glabrous or finely puberulent. Leaves with pungent odor of horseradish; 30-60 cm, leaflets distributed on 4-8 pairs of pinnae; pinnae largest near base of leaf, 2 or 3 pinnate; leaflets 75-150, distalmost pairs represented by pairs of single leaflets along main rachis; blades bright to dark green, (0.5-)1-2(-3) × (0.3-) 0.5-1.5(-2) mm, base rounded to cuneate, apex rounded to emarginate, glands 3-5 mm (smaller at blade apex). Panicles (5-)10-25(-35) cm, each flower subtended by glandular bract. Pedicels 5-10(-20) mm; bracteoles 2. Flowers sweet-scented, 2-3 cm; sepals 10-20 × 3-4 mm, proximal ones usually reflexed, usually puberulent, distalmost pair usually largest, ± erect, enclosing banner petal, or ± reflexed; petals cream, 1-2 cm, distalmost banner petal ± erect, others usually ± reflexed; filaments and staminodes 7-10 mm, basally pubescent, adherent distally proximal to banner petal and anthers in a 3-tiered presentation; receptacle cup-shaped, 3-4 mm; gynophore 2-3 mm, appressed to banner petal; ovary 3-5 mm, with 3 ridges. Capsules tan, 10-30(-55) × 1.5-3 cm, apex beaked, 3 (or 4)-angled; valves silvery inside. Seeds pale to dark brown, globular, 3-winged; cotyledons exuding oil when compressed.

A tropical and subtropical plant. They suit the dry lowland areas and grow up to 1,350 m altitude in the tropics. It grows in the Sahel. In Nepal it grows up to 1100 m altitude. They are not hardy to frost. They cannot tolerate water-logging. A pH of 6-7.5 is suitable. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.

The young tops and leaves are eaten cooked. They are eaten as potherbs or used in soups and curries. They can be dried and stored for later use. The flowers are also used for curries. The very young long pods are eaten cooked, especially in curries and soup. They are also pickled. The young seeds are eaten roasted or fried. Sometimes the roots are used as a horseradish substitute. A gum from the bark is used as seasoning. The bark is used for tea. The roots, leaves, flowers and fruits are eaten cooked in water and mixed with salt and chili peppers. The oil expressed from the seeds is used in salads.

It is best to grow plants from 1 metre long cuttings but they can be grown from seed. They can be used as a hedge and pruned regularly to produce more leaves. Properly dried seed can be stored for a long time in sealed containers in a cool place. Normally perennial types are grown from cuttings and annual types are grown from seed.