page_title: Moringa stenopetala
section_title: Distribution, habitat and ecology
hierarchical_section_title: Moringa stenopetala / Distribution, habitat and ecology
caption_attribution_description: Moringa stenopetala is a native tree to Ethiopia and is an important, nutritious food source in some parts of the country. Trees for the Future and Greener Ethiopia are promoting income generation activities involving moringa leaf and seed processing and marketing in Konso, where it has been grown for generations. In Guraghe Zone, where it is not common, TREES and their partners are promoting it as an effective way to increase food security and household nutrition.
context_page_description: Moringa stenopetala, commonly known as the African Moringa or cabbage tree, is a deciduous tree in the flowering plant genus Moringa, native to Kenya and Ethiopia. A drought-resistant species, it is characterized by its bottle-shaped trunk, long twisted seed pods, and edible leaves likened to cabbage, from which its common name is derived. M. stenopetala is extirpated in the wild in Ethiopia, though still grown there as a crop on the terraces of the Ethiopian Highlands, mainly in the Konso region.
  Like its widely cultivated relative M. oleifera, Moringa stenopetala is a multipurpose tree: the leaves, pods, and flowers are edible and nutritious; the seeds contain an aromatic oil with culinary and cosmetic applications; and the seed press cake or powdered bark can be used for water purification. It is featured in various dishes and has a history of uses in folk medicine throughout its native range.
context_section_description: Sparsely distributed across the Horn of Africa, Moringa stenopetala is endemic to southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya, and possibly Somalia. Extant populations are poorly documented, but have been identified in the wild in at least five localities across the Kenyan Rift Valley—one on Ol Kokwe Island in Lake Baringo and four around the shores of Lake Turkana. Records of wild specimens from other east African countries, including Djibouti, Sudan, and Uganda, have been deemed unreliable.   M. stenopetala trees are widely cultivated in southern Ethiopia, where they were likely sourced from a now-extinct population near Lake Chew Bahir. Since modern times, the species has steadily been introduced across tropical Africa: it is found as far west as Senegal and as far south as Malawi.
   
  In the wild, M. stenopetala occurs in various habitats with different bioclimatic conditions and elevations of 400–1,200 m (1,300–3,900 ft). Its distribution range is arid to semi-arid, with an average annual rainfall of 500–1,400 mm (20–55 in) and mean temperatures of 24–30 °C (75–86 °F). Often growing near bodies of water, wild trees have been observed in drylands, shrublands, and woodlands, where they may form associations with Acacia tortilis, Delonix elata and Commiphora spp., as well as in wetlands, often associated with riverside species from Hyphaene, Salvadora and Cadaba. These regions are characterized by rocky or sandy soils, with good drainage and neutral to slightly acidic or alkaline soil reaction. The species is, however, known for its ability to subsist on a wide variety of (possibly very harsh) soil conditions; mature trees can even improve the fertility of the surrounding topsoil with their tendency to shed considerable amounts of organic matter.
  Like its African relatives, M. stenopetala is well adapted to the severe heat and drought that characterize its native landscapes, where, given proper shading, it may survive temperatures up to 48 °C (118 °F). Developing early, the tuberous roots and bloated trunk form a prominent storage organ, which allows the plant to preserve water and thrive in drier climates. Although drought-deciduous, shedding its leaves towards the end of very prolonged dry seasons, it habitually grows as an evergreen under more moderate conditions. Light frost is tolerated, although persistent cold temperatures at higher growing elevations may eventually cause the tree to wither down to the base of its trunk, as well as inducing dormancy in seeds.
  M. stenopetala trees live between 60 and 100 years, often with sustained productivity until the end of their lifespan.  It is a quickly developing species; young plants can grow as high as 3 m (10 ft) in their first year and typically reach reproductive maturity after 2.5 years. From there on, the plants often continue to flower and fruit year-round. The flowers emit a sweet fragrance that encourages pollination by birds and insects alike. Mature seeds may be dispersed by either wind or water. The foliage provides nutritious forage for both wild and domesticated ruminants, whereas the flowers serve as an important source of nectar for honeybees.
caption: Habit in the Gurage Zone, Ethiopia
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