The Moringa oleifera, better known as Moringa is a tree native to India. It grows in almost any soil, even in most arid soils if provided him some time summer irrigation. Withstands temperatures from 0 degrees for short periods of time so it is considered subtropical, is deciduous out new leaves in spring. Pruning is important at this time to produce new leaves and branches for more abundant foliage.
The taste of moringa is quite nice and parts can be eaten raw, especially the leaves and flowers (which are cream colored and appear mainly in times of drought, when the tree is usually shed their leaves) or cooked in various ways (for example in soups). The flowers are rich in carbohydrates and taste good. The leaves can be used for salads, have a mildly spicy (a mixture of watercress and horseradish) taste. Besides fruits shaped pods that being green can be cooked when they are ripe boiled with a little salt, open and seeds and ready to consume, like chickpeas taste are extracted and can also be toasted. The roots are not edible, can be toxic so beware.
It is one of the plant species with higher oil content (34%), making it an important resource for producing clean biodiesel. The crop has a yield of 2000 kg. / Hectare, producing nearly 1500 liters of oil and more than 1300 liters of biodiesel / ha, which has led to its cultivation is investigated in several parts of the world. Flowers at 7-8 months after planting. Features include rapid growth, 3m in its first year and may reach 5 m at conditions under climatic control is highlighted; the adult tree reaches 10m in height and hardiness makes it easy to grow. Moreover, for its beauty is often used as an ornamental plant in parks and roads.
Its wood is used as firewood and for charcoal or paper pulp of high quality. If used as forage stand another long list of beneficial features, which apply to poultry cattle, pigs, sheep, goats or, among others, which generates significant increases in performance, both weight gain and production of milk. Has more potassium than bananas, more vitamin A than carrots, more protein than yogurt, and plenty more of health benefits that call themselves "Miracle tree".