Moringa oleifera is the most widely cultivated species of the genus
Moringa, which is the only genus in the family Moringaceae. English
common names include: moringa, drumstick tree (from the appearance
of the long, slender, triangular seed-pods), horseradish tree (from
the taste of the roots, which resembles horseradish), ben oil tree,
or benzoil tree (from the oil which is derived from the seeds). It
is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree, native to the southern
foothills of the Himalayas in northwestern India, and widely
cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas where its young seed
pods and leaves are used as vegetables. It can also be used for
water purification and hand washing, and is sometimes used in
herbal medicine.
