Ecologically also it is a very useful and important tree. 2009/4/12 J.M. Garg <[email protected]>
> Lovely shot, Vinod ji. > > Some extracts from Wikipedia link (for pictures/ more details, pl. click on > the link): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_oleifera > > *Moringa oleifera*, commonly referred to simply as *Moringa* (Tamil * > murungai*, முருங்கை),(Kannada *Nuggekai*) (*Mulakkaya* in > Telugu<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu>), > (Marathi *Shevaga*), (*Malunggay* in > Tagalog<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog>) > is the most widely cultivated variety of the genus > *Moringa<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa> > *. It is of the family Moringaceae. It is an exceptionally nutritious > vegetable <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable> > tree<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree>with a variety of potential uses. The > tree itself is rather slender with > drooping branches <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branch> that grows to > approximately 10 m in height; however, it normally is cut back annually to > one meter or less, and allowed to regrow, so that > pods<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pod>and > leaves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves> remain within arm's reach. > Considered one of the world’s most useful trees, as almost every part of > the Moringa tree can be used for food <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food>, > or has some other beneficial property. In the tropics it is used as > forage<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forage>for > livestock <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livestock>. And in many countries, > Moringa is used as a > micronutrient<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronutrient>powder to treat > indigenous diseases. > > A traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known vegetable has > potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural > development and support sustainable > landcare.[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_oleifera#cite_note-1> > > The immature <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immature> green pods, called > “drumsticks” are probably the most valued and widely used part of the tree. > They are commonly consumed in India, and are generally prepared in a similar > fashion to green beans <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_beans> and have > a slight asparagus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asparagus> > taste<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste>. > The seeds are sometimes removed from more mature pods and eaten like > peas<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peas>or roasted like > nuts <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nut_%28fruit%29>. The > flowers<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowers>are edible when cooked, and are > said to taste like > mushrooms <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushrooms>. The > roots<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root>are shredded and used as a > condiment <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condiment> in the same way as > horseradish <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseradish>, however it > contains the alkaloid <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaloid> > spirochin<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spirochin&action=edit&redlink=1>, > a potentially fatal nerve <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerve> paralyzing > agent, so such practices should be strongly discouraged. > > The leaves are highly nutritious <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritious>, > being a significant source of > beta-carotene<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-carotene>, > Vitamin C <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_C>, > protein<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein>, > iron <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron> and > potassium<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium>. > The leaves are cooked and used like > spinach<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinach>. > In addition to being used fresh as a substitute for spinach, its leaves are > commonly dried and crushed into a > powder<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder_%28substance%29>, > and used in soups <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soups> and > sauces<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauces>. > *Murungakai* as it is locally known in Tamil > Nadu<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Nadu>and > Kerala <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala> is used in Siddha > medicine<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddha_medicine>. > Its leaves are full of medicinal properties. The tree is a good source for > calcium and phosphorus. In Siddha medicine, the drumstick seeds are used as > a sexual virility <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virility> drug for > treating erectile dysfunction in men and also in women for prolonging sexual > activity. > The Moringa seeds yield 38–40% edible > oil<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edible_oil>(called ben > oil <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_oil>, from the high concentration of > behenic acid <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behenic_acid> contained in the > oil). The refined oil <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_oil> is clear, > odorless, and resists rancidity <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidation>at > least as well as any other botanical oil. The seed cake remaining after > oil extraction may be used as a > fertilizer<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilizer>or as a > flocculent <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flocculation> to > purify<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purify>water. > > The bark <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bark>, > sap<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sap_%28plant%29>, > roots, leaves, seeds, oil and flowers are used in traditional > medicine<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_medicine>in several > countries. In > Jamaica <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica>, the sap is used for a blue > dye <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dye>. > > The flowers are also cooked and relished as a delicacy in West Bengal and > Bangladesh, especially during early spring. There it is called *sojne ful*and > is usually cooked with green peas and > potato <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato>. > > > > 2009/4/12 Anand Kumar Bhatt <[email protected]> > >> Sahjan blooms and blooms. It is said: >> >> sahjan ati jo phuliye/ Daar paat ki hani >> >> Means Sahjan flowers so much that even the branches break. >> >> It attracts birds for the honey in the flower, and the drum stick is good >> for health in so many ways. >> akbhatt >> >> >> On Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 1:54 PM, vinod kumar gupta < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Taken at nehru park on 5.4.9 >>> >>> Vinod >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Anand Kumar Bhatt >> A-59, B.S.F.Colony, Airport Road >> Gwalior. 474 005. >> Tele: 0751-247 2233. Mobile 0 94253 09780. >> My blogsite is at: >> http://anandkbhatt.blogspot.com >> And the photo site: >> www.flickr.com/photos/akbhatt/ >> >> >> For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group >> (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en >> >> >> >> >> -- http:// satishphadke.blogspot.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
