Lam., Moringaceae |
|
Present on Pacific Islands? yes
Primarily a threat at high elevations? no
Risk assessment results: Low risk (based on second screen), score: 1 (Go to the risk assessment)
Other Latin names: Moringa pterygospera C. F. Gaertn.
Common name(s): [more details]
Chamorro: katdes, malungay, marunggai |
Chinese: la mu |
English: West Indian ben, ben-oil-tree, benzolive-tree, drumstick tree, horseradish tree, moringa |
Filipino: malungai, marungai |
French: ben ailée, moringa ailée, mouroungue, néverdié, pois quénique |
Hindi: saijan, seijan |
Palauan: malungkai |
Sanskrit: sajina |
Spanish: maranga, paraíso, paraíso blanco |
Tagalog: marronggai |
Habit: tree
Description: "Trees to 12 m tall; bark pale smooth to rugose but not fissured. Leaves petiolate, 3-pinnate, 25-60 cm, with stalked glands often exuding clear or amber liquid at base of petiole and leaflets; leaflets in 4-6 pairs, ovate, elliptic, or oblong, 1-2 x 0.5-1.2 cm, puberulous when young but glabrous at maturity, base rounded to cuneate, apex rounded to emarginate; petiolules slender, 1-2 mm. Inflorescence a widely spreading panicle, bracteate, 10-30 cm; bracts linear, ca. 1 mm. Flowers white to cream, fragrant, somewhat resembling an inverted Fabaceae flower with 2 dorsal sepals and 1 dorsal petal usually remaining unreflexed and forming a projecting "keel" while the rest of the perianth reflexes down to form a "banner" at right angles to the "keel", each flower borne on a false pedicel 7-15 mm; true pedicel 1-2 mm. Sepals lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 0.7-1.4 mm, usually puberulent. Petals spatulate, 1-2 cm, glabrous or puberulent at base. Stamens hairy at base. Ovary hairy. Capsule 3-valved, 20-50 x 1-3 cm, dehiscent. Seeds subglobose, 3-angled, 8-15 mm in diam. excluding wings; wings 0.5-1 cm wide, rarely absent" (Flora of China online).
"A smallish soft-wooded tree with corky bark, pungent roots, bi-tripinnate leaves up to 50 cm long with obovate leaflets about 1-1.5 cm long, somewhat grayish-green; inflorescences axillary, shorter than the leaves, paniculate; flowers white, about 1.5-2 cm long, somewhat zygomorphic; fruit pendent, elongate, 3-angled, up to 30 cm long, 9-ribbed, opening by 3 valves; seeds 3-angled, winged at the angles, many" (Stone, 1970; p. 289).
Habitat/ecology: Dryer areas from sea level to 250 m.
Propagation: Seed
Native range: India; also cultivated (GRIN).
Presence:
Pacific | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands |
Rota Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 86) |
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Saipan |
Saipan Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 86) |
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands |
Rarotonga Island |
cultivated
|
Sykes, Bill (year unknown) |
Federated States of Micronesia
Chuuk Islands |
Namoluk (Nómwunuuk) Atoll |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 86) |
Federated States of Micronesia
Chuuk Islands |
Weno (Moen) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (p. 28) |
Federated States of Micronesia
Kosrae Island |
Kosrae Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. (2000) (p. 28) |
Federated States of Micronesia
Kosrae Island |
Kosrae Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 20) |
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands |
Pohnpei Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 86) |
Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei Islands |
Pohnpei Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 115) |
Federated States of Micronesia
Yap Islands |
Yap (Waqab) Island | Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013) | |
Fiji
Fiji Islands |
Viti Levu Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 712-713)
Vouchers cited: DA 17323, DA 957 |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Raiatea (Havai) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 189)
Voucher cited: Moore 744 |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Raiatea (Havai) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence & P. Birnbaum 9948 (PAP) Cultivée |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahiti Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 189)
Voucher cited: Florence 7206 |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahiti Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence (legit M. Guérin) 7206 (PAP) Planté, rare à Tahiti. |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 289)
Voucher cited: Stone 3843 (GUAM) |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 86) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Hawaiian Islands |
introduced
cultivated |
Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral/Imada, Clyde T. (2000) (p. 25) |
Marshall Islands
Ralik Chain |
Kili (Kõle) Atoll |
introduced
cultivated |
Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2006) (p. 10)
"Uncommon; planted food crop around Bikini Projects camp, another fallen tree observed near ocean, windward side of island". |
Marshall Islands
Ralik Chain |
Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll |
introduced
cultivated |
Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 101) |
Marshall Islands
Ratak Chain |
Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll |
introduced
cultivated |
Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 110) |
Marshall Islands
Ratak Chain |
Maloelap Atoll | Imada, Clyde (2006) | |
Nauru
Nauru Island |
Nauru Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 173) |
Niue
Niue |
Niue Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 128)
In cultivation? Voucher cited: CHR 150507 |
Niue
Niue |
Niue Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 7) |
Niue
Niue |
Niue Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 13) |
Palau
Kayangel Atoll |
Kayangel Islet |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Miles, Joel (2015) (p. 2)
ref states "Cultivated" |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Babeldaob Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 102) |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Kayangel (Ngcheangel) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 8) |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Koror (Oreor) Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 86) |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Koror (Oreor) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 98) |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Koror (Oreor) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 64) |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Koror (Oreor) Island |
Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3119)
Taxon name on voucher: Moringa oleifera Lam. |
|
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Koror (Oreor) Island |
Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1966) (voucher ID: BNM 545)
Taxon name on voucher: Moringa oleifera Lam. |
|
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 98) |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 64) |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Ngercheu Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 64)
Carp Resort |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Peleliu (Beliliou) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 106) |
Philippines
Philippine Islands |
Philippine Islands |
introduced
cultivated abo. intro. |
Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 213-214)
Planted throughout the settled areas at low and medium altitudes. Introduced in the prehistoric period. |
Samoa
Western Samoa Islands |
Savaii Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.) |
Samoa
Western Samoa Islands |
Upolu Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. Field notes.) |
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands |
Solomon Islands |
introduced
invasive |
Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 92) |
Tonga
Tongatapu Group |
Tongatapu Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 54) |
United States (other Pacific offshore islands)
Midway Atoll |
Sand Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd (2008) (pp. B-10) |
Pacific Rim | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
China
China |
China (People's Republic of) |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Cultivated for ornament and food, sometimes escaping. |
Singapore
Singapore |
Singapore (Republic of) |
introduced
cultivated |
Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 62)
Cultivated only |
Indian Ocean | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands)
Christmas Island Group |
Christmas Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 120)
Garden escape. |
British Indian Ocean Territory
Chagos Archipelago |
Diego Garcia Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Rivers, Julie (2004) (pp. 4, 8) |
Maldives
Maldive Islands |
Maldive Islands |
Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 19)
"Common in all the group". |
|
Maldives
Maldive Islands |
Malè Atoll |
Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 19)
"One tree in coconut plantation". Voucher cited: Fosberg 36885 (US) |
|
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
Agalega Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 128) |
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
Alphonse Island |
Robertson, I. A. D./Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 182)
Voucher cited: Robertson 2888 (K) |
|
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
Coetivy Island | Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 151) | |
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
Cousin Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 25)
Voucher cited: Fosberg 52131 (US) |
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
D'Arros Island |
Stoddart, D. R./Coe, M. J./Fosberg, F. R. (1979) (p. 22)
Voucher cited: Stoddart 7224 (US) |
|
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
Frégate Island | Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 55) | |
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
Marie-Louise Island | Wilson, J. R. (1983) (p. 193) | |
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
Poivre Island | Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 172) | |
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
Seychelles Islands |
introduced
|
Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017) |
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
St. Joseph Island |
Stoddart, D. R./Coe, M. J./Fosberg, F. R. (1979) (p. 45)
Voucher cited: Stoddart 7174 (US) |
Comments: Some naturalization noted on Guam. This tree bears watching as a potential invasive as it is reported to naturalize.
Control: If you know of control methods for Moringa oleifera, please let us know.