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Marungai (Moringa oleifera) |
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Moringa-The Miracle Tree is a
Discovery Channel production (2005)
exploring the importance of a single
plant as a symbol of Filipino
culture and as a famine food for
people in arid tropical regions of
the world. Moringa is just one
example of a plant that serves as a
symbol of a culture, a flag or a
marker by which people identity
themselves. Many of these kinds of
plants are actually grown around
people's homes because they feel
familiar and look right. They
serve as markers of culture and
cultural affinity. As foods these
are typically critical to life as
staple sources of calories or
nutrients, although some are more
symbolic and derived from earlier
times when lifestyles were different
and food demands were different.
Some marker plants are not foods but
are long-lived trees that serve
important roles in religious and
social contexts. A few marker plants
are herbs that are medicinal or are
maintained for unusual or colorful
floral displays. This episode discusses
some of the the importance of
Marungai (Moringa
oleifera) in Filipino culture
in Hawaii and the significance and modern uses
of these trees in other parts of the
world.
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Production Credits
Used with Permission from:
- Discovery Channel
and Zija Inc.
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Readings |
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Balick, M. & P.Cox. 1996. Plants, People, and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany. Scientific American, New York. Pages 63-98
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