Moringa Adans.

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Trees with pungent roots, the bark exuding gum; leaves alternate, 3–4-pinnately compound, the divisions opposite, the ultimate leaflets entire; stipules none or reduced to glands

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers perfect, irregular, in axillary panicles; sepals 5, unequal, united at base into a short, cup-like tube; petals 5, the upper two smaller

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10, 5 perfect ones alternating with 5 sterile, all inserted on the edge of a disc lining the calyx-tube; filaments free; anthers 1-celled

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary superior, stalked, 1-celled with 3 parietal placentas; style tubular, open at the apex; ovules numerous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a many-seeded elongate capsule opening by 3 valves; seeds large, 3-winged or wingless; embryo without endosperm.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs, subshrubs or perennial herbs with tuberous rootstocks, often smelling of horse-radish.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, 1–3-imparipinnate; leaflets mainly opposite, entire; stipules and stipels absent or minute but sometimes with stipitate glands at base of petioles and pinnae.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers in axillary panicles, regular or somewhat irregular, bisexual.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 5, imbricate in bud.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5, imbricate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 5 fertile alternating with 3–5 staminodes; filaments free or partly united; anthers dorsifixed, 1-thecous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynostegium

Ovary superior, cylindrical, 1-celled of 3 carpels; style terminal, slender, without stigmatic lobes; ovules numerous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule elongate, 3-valved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds often with 3 conspicuous wings; endosperm absent; embryo straight.

Distribution

Genus of 13-14 species, the majority in NE tropical Africa, one endemic in southwestern Africa, two in Madagascar and two in India.

Note

The species often flower before the leaves appear, but correlated leaves or fruits are often needed for reliable identification.