Wild drumstick tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wild drumstick tree
• Wing Moringa
• bentree
• wispy-needle yasartree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hyperanthera peregrina
• Hyperanthera semidecandra
• Moringa myrepsica
• Hyperanthera arborea
• Moringa aptera
• Hyperanthera monodynama
• Moringa arabica
• Hyperanthera aptera
• Gymnocladus arabica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Brassicales and the family Moringaecae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Moringa, specifically as the species Moringa peregrina.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the arid regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is recorded within the borders of Egypt. Moving toward the Northeast Tropical Africa region, it can be found across several distinct territories. Specifically, its habitat includes the nations of Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Finally, the range of this medicinal species extends further into the Horn of Africa to include Somalia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Moringa peregrina is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its habitat over many years. As part of its seasonal biological cycle, the plant exhibits deciduousness, shedding its foliage in response to environmental cues or seasonal changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Moringa peregrina is characterized by its stature as a woody tree that typically reaches an average height of 8 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows in land-based environments and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant exhibits a self-supporting growth habit, lacking the climbing mechanisms found in vines, and maintains a robust, woody structure throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Moringa peregrina is characterized by its specialized adaptations to arid and semi-arid environments, focusing on efficient water management and nutrient uptake. As a drought-tolerant species, its metabolic processes are geared toward minimizing transpirational loss, often employing physiological mechanisms to maintain cellular turgor during extended dry periods. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms. Consequently, its nitrogen acquisition is entirely dependent on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium present in the soil through its root system. The plant's photosynthetic efficiency and carbon assimilation are optimized to function under high light intensities and thermal stress, allowing it to sustain growth in nutrient-poor, sandy substrates where other species might struggle.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Moringa peregrina is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily mediated by insects. Specifically, the plant relies on bees as key pollinators to facilitate the transfer of pollen, ensuring successful fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with highly consistent morphological characteristics. The seed mass exhibits a narrow range of variation, with a recorded minimum of 0.49293 g and a maximum of 0.52404 g. On average, the seeds maintain a mass of approximately 0.508485 g, reflecting a specialized reproductive strategy aimed at consistent seed production.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.52404 g

Seed mass mean:

0.508485 g

Seed mass min:

0.49293 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Moringa peregrina has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, seed.

Leaf

1. BioMed research international
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flower

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Natural product communications

Chemicals

Moringa peregrina has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, myricetin, Antioxidant Activity, CALCIUM, Gallic acid.

Flavonoids

1. Natural product communications
2. Scientific reports

myricetin

1. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant Activity

1. Scientific reports

CALCIUM

1. Pharmacognosy research

Gallic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Lupeol acetate

1. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

POTASSIUM

1. Pharmacognosy research

RUTIN

1. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Vitamin A

1. Pharmacognosy research

caffeic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Moringa peregrina has 8 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Disinfectant.

Antioxidant

1. BioMed research international
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Analgesic

1. BioMed research international

Anticancer

1. BioMed research international

Antimicrobial

1. BioMed research international

Disinfectant

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hypoglycemic

1. BioMed research international

Hypolipidemic

1. BioMed research international

Stimulant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Moringa peregrina has 17 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, breast carcinoma, burns, cognitive decline, constipation.

Asthma

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Breast carcinoma

1. BioMed research international

Burns

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Cognitive decline

1. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Constipation

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Disinfectant

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Fever

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. BioMed research international

Hypertension

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Labor pain

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Moringa peregrina has 2 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Hydro-alcoholic extracts, Leaves Extracts.

Hydro-alcoholic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaves extracts

1. BioMed research international