Drumstick Tree
Moringa oleifera
Moringa oleifera, commonly known as the drumstick tree, is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree native to …
Oval-leaved Moringa (Moringa ovalifoliolata)
phantom tree
ghost tree
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
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Moringa ovalifoliolata: The Ghost Tree of Arid Lands
Standing out against the barren desert landscape, Moringa ovalifoliolata attracts attention with its swollen, white-barked trunk that acts as a water reservoir.
This unique succulent tree is native to rocky slopes and gravelly plains where rainfall is extremely low. The striking appearance of its pale trunk has earned it common names associated with ghosts or phantoms in its native regions.
Taxonomy
- ∟ царство Plantae
- ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
- ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
- ∟ Angiosperms
- ∟ mesangiosperms (Core angiosperms)
- ∟ eudicots
- ∟ Superrosids
- ∟ rosids
- ∟ malvids
- ∟ order Brassicales
- ∟ genus Moringa (Moringa tree of life)
- ∟ species Moringa ovalifoliolata (Oval-leaved Moringa)
Morphology
The trunk is notably swollen and bottle-shaped, covered in a smooth, silvery-white to light brown bark that reflects solar radiation. Its leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate, consisting of small, oval leaflets that provide a light, airy canopy.
It produces small, white or cream-colored flowers in large, branched inflorescences. These flowers develop into three-valved capsule fruits that split open to release winged seeds dispersed by the wind.
Flowering season
Typically flowers during the Southern Hemisphere spring and early summer, from October to December.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
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Aug
Sep
Oct
Name
Dec
Applications
Due to its wild nature and restricted arid habitat, the tree has very limited direct human applications, although the bark and roots are sometimes utilized in local traditional remedies. Its primary value is ecological, offering nesting sites for birds and food for desert-dwelling herbivores during dry periods.
Interesting facts
In Namibia, there is a famous location in Etosha National Park known as the "Sprookjeswoud" or "Fairy Forest," which consists almost entirely of these strange, twisted trees. According to local folklore, the trees were thrown out of heaven and landed upside down, explaining their unusual swollen bases and root-like branches.
Geography of distribution
- Namibia
- Angola
Sources
- POWO (Plants of the World Online)
- WFO (World Flora Online)
- GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
See also
Hildebrandt's moringa
Moringa hildebrandtii
An extraordinary water-storing tree endemic to Madagascar, extinct in the wild but preserved through traditional …
Ben tree
Moringa peregrina
Moringa peregrina is a resilient desert tree native to the Red Sea region and Arabian …
tree moringa
Moringa arborea
A rare, drought-resistant tree native to the arid regions of Kenya and Ethiopia, known for …