Re(2): Moringa (was Leguminosae and folding leaves.)..

theryans@xtra.co.nz writes:
>
> I see that those tuberous roots are edible and taste like horseradish,
>which accounts for the common name. Also that the tree produces Ben oil,
>formerly used as a lubricant by watchmakers, but today as a salad oil
>and in soap. With all the other uses you mentioned as well it sounds a
>useful tree to take to a desert island!!!

Theres a web page on Moringa (here:
http://www.le.ac.uk/engineering/staff/Sutherland/moringa/moringa.htm) ,
and they say you really wouldn't want to eat the roots since they contain
some alkaloids. From information i found on the web: 

One of the most common vernacular names for M.oleifera is the horse-radish
tree. This
arose from the use of the root by Europeans in India as a substitute for
horse- radish.
Such a practice would not now be recommended as the root has been shown to
contain 0.105% alkaloids, especially moriginine, and a bacteriocide,
spirochin, both of
which can prove fatal following ingestion.

As you say, it has some very nutritious parts. In the Philippines the
leaves are often prescribed when someone has anemia.  I hear (from second
hand sources, and we all know how reliable those can be :)), that the
leaves can prevent damping off in seedlings. 

Also, the seeds have been shown to clear particulates out of water.
Resources I have read say it can reduce the amount of harmful bacteria and
water. 
>
>Are you in the process of setting up a permaculture garden? Moringa
>would appear to fit very nicely into such an arrangement.


HMm i hadnt thought of that :).  Perhaps i will do a permaculture garden
some day (still trying to get the front garden together :)). But you are
right, it would definately fit in well into a permaculture garden. If the
tree can survive winter here, i may utilize it for a windbreak along the
back fence (by using branch cuttings)

____________________________________________________________________      
         
     "Raw to the floor like reservoir dogs"  - A.V. Helden 
____________________________________________________________________
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index