Family: Moringaceae
Moringa borziana (moringa) is a tuberous small shrub native to Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. It has some purported medicinal uses, but it is difficult to find specific information on this matter. Its IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. No introductions outside its native range have been reported nor has it ever been reported to be naturalized in Hawaiʻi.
High Risk Traits:
- Grows in tropical climates
- Other Moringa species have weedy traits and tendencies
- Reproduces by seeds
- Rapid growth rate
- Seeds dispersed by wind, gravity and intentionally by people
- Resprouts from tuberous roots
- Limited ecological information may limit accuracy of risk prediction
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Not reported to spread vegetatively