Moringa oleifera, Lamk. |
(Syn. M. Pterygosperma) |
Family: Moringaceae |
Common Name : Drumstick Tree |
Telugu Name : Munaga |
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General :
Often found wild in the forests but very commonly grown in households. It grows on a variety of soils but prefers alluvial soils with sufficient moisture. It is identified by thick, corky and deeply fissured bark and tripinnate leaf.
Flowering :
The fragrant, whitish flowers in numerous panicles appear in January to March. |
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Fruiting : |
The elongated fruits ripen from April-June. |
Morphology of the Fruit/Seed : |
Capsule 10 to 20 cms long: seeds 3 corned and about 2 to 3 cms long including the wings. |
Seed Collection and Storage : |
Pods are collected in May-June, dried in the sun, thrashed and winnowed to separate the clean seeds which are dried and kept in air-tight container. Seeds lose viability considerably during the first year of storage. |
Seed Biology : |
No. of seeds per Kg. |
Germination percentage |
Period of germination days |
8000 to 9000 |
60 to 70 |
8 to 10 |
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Pretreatment: |
Not required. |
Nursery Technique : |
Sunken beds alternated by irrigated channels are made after working the soil. Sowing is done in June in lines, 20 cms a part and the spacing between the seeds is 2 cms and depth is 1 cm. On completion of germination, the seedlings are spaced about 10 cms in lines. One year old seedling is planted out. Large branch cuttings are also used. |