Family: MORINGACEAE

horseradish tree
 drumstick

India \ small (to 8m tall and 3 m wide), deciduous tree \ both drought and frost tender \ long bean - like fruit is used in soups and curries \ young leaves and twigs have a mustard flavour and are eaten in salads \ immature seeds are used like peas \ mature seeds are roasted or fried and eaten like peanuts \ root is used like horseradish \ young tender seedlings are cooked as a vegetable \ leaves contain 7 - 10% protein \ fruit produces a seed which yields an oil which never goes rancid and is called behen or ben oil it is used for salads and for cooking \ oil is also known as watchmakers oil because of its use in delicate precision machinery \ seeds are crushed and added to contaminated water to purify it for drinking.