Hello, I wanted to make sure that this is a Moringa Olifeira before I eat It, as I have never done so before. Thanks a lot!
where did you find that tree? It looks like a true moringa, but there is at least one desert tree with eerily similar foliage and flowers. Would you be able to take closeup photos of the flowers, possibly showing stamens?
Thanks for the reply! I found this tree in the Carribbean, which is where I am at the moment. The flowers are wonderfully fragrant. Here is a closeup of the flower:
I have a moringa tree (dwarf). It bloomed profusely last year, but I can’t remember if the flowers smelled good. (probably not). It probably isn’t, I sure wouldn’t eat it.
The leaves of the Bird of Paradise look similar as does the mimosa tree.
Looking at the flower again, I remember my flowers were large like a spray covering the tree. Carol
Mimosa tree
Different imo.
@carolstropicals might be pertaining to another mimosa that is a tree which looks almost identical to moringa oleifera. And even though the photo you posted of bird of paradise is true to common name, there also are birds of paradise trees. There are at least three “birds of paradise”
The strelitizia bird of paradise(from africa) you posted, then the heliconia birds of paradise from the americas(sometimes referred to as false birds of paradise), and then the bird of paradise tree(which is a true tree-- the only dicot of the three birds of paradise i just enumerated), so it is quite confusing.
am almost certain it is a true moringa, considering your location, but it is possible it might still be another species.
anyway, would you be able to count the stamens? There should be 5
Sorry, got the name wrong, Poinciana, I have several of these, but again the flowers on the poinciana are prolific.
Your tree appears to be in the shade.
Is there someone you could ask ?
When I want to know a plant name, I go onto gardenweb.com. They have a forum that is Name That Plant. There are experts on that site. They always give me the name.
I eat moringa leaves all the time. I could taste it and tell you, but then again I am not blessed to be where you are right now.
My dwarf moringa leaves taste different than the larger tree moringa.
If you knew what it tasted like, you could take a taste.
There may be different varieties of moringa. My flowers were bright white where these look yellow - or is that the background.
You can’t ask the locals (or other locals, if that’s your home)? . Moringa is from India, but it is commercially grown in the Caribbean, so it very likely could be.
I know other trees can look similar, but that sure looks like moringa to me.
That’s Moringa for sure!
I grew up eating Moringa as a kid in South India. And we had 2 large trees