Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent.[2] Common names include moringa,[3] drumstick tree[3] (from the long, slender, triangular seed-pods), horseradish tree[3] (from the taste of the roots, which resembles horseradish), and ben oil tree or benzolive tree.[3]

It is widely cultivated for its young seed pods and leaves, used as vegetables and for traditional herbal medicine. It is also used for water purification.[4][5] Although listed as an invasive species in several countries, M. oleifera has “not been observed invading intact habitats or displacing native flora”, so “should be regarded at present as a widely cultivated species with low invasive potential.” [2]

The genus name Moringa derives from the Malayalam word muringo from southern India.[2] The Tamil word, murungai, meaning “twisted pod”, alludes to the young fruit.[6] The species name oleifera is derived from the Latin words oleum “oil” and ferre “to bear”.[7]

The plant has numerous common names across regions where it is cultivated, with drumstick tree, horse radish tree or simply moringa used in English.[2][3]