Moringa is the sole genus in the flowering plant family Moringaceae. The 13 species it contains are from tropical and subtropical climates and range in size from tiny herbs to massive trees. The generic names is derived from the Tamil word murunggai (முருங்கை) or the Malayalam word muringa, both of which refer to M. oleifera.[2]
The most widely known species is Moringa oleifera, a multi-purpose tree native to the foothills of the Himalayas in northwestern India and cultivated throughout the tropics.[3] M. stenopetala, an African species, is also widely grown, but to a much lesser extent than M. oleifera.
Moringa oleifera silviculture is currently being promoted as a means to combat poverty and malnutrition.[4] It grows quickly in many types of environments, and much of the plant is edible, including by livestock. The leaves contain all essential amino acids and are rich in protein, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and minerals.[3] Feeding the high protein leaves to cattle has been shown to increase weight gain by up to 32% and milk production by 43 to 65%.[4] According to Dr. K. Shaine Tyson of Rocky Mountain Biodiesel Consulting, the degreased meal contains 60% protein, 40% more than soybean meal. The defatted meal can also be used to purify water, settling out sediments and undesirable organisms.
Moringa species can also provide oil for making biofuels. The seeds contain 30-50% oil, or 112-185 gal/acre/year. The oil contains 65-75% oleic acids and, unlike Jatropha oil, is also beneficial to humans.
Moringa species are drought-resistant and can grow in a wide variety of poor soils, even barren ground, with soil pH between 4.5 and 9.0. Although current cultivars can withstand frost, they do not generally survive a hard freeze. They can probably be grown wherever oranges grow successfully.
How about Plantain? Anyone feed that to there Cyclura? I am talking about true plantain, both narrow leave and broad leave. My cyclura love it and it grows like dandelions as it is considered a weed.
