Family: Moringaceae

Moringa rivae (lorsanjo, wamo) is a dry deciduous tree native to Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. It has been used as a traditional remedy for arthritis. It is a rare plant and its IUCN Red List status is Nearly Threatened. This is due to habitat loss caused by land conversion to pasture and livestock pathways. No introductions outside its native range have been reported nor has it ever been reported to be naturalized in Hawaiʻi.

High Risk Traits:

• Grows, and could spread, in regions with tropical climates
  
• Other Moringa species have weedy traits and tendencies
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• 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:

• introduction outside native range
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively