User:Hylian Auree/sandbox

Distribution
M. oleifera is found worldwide in the tropics and subtropics. The species has been naturalized throughout Asia, Africa, North America, Central America, the Caribbean, South America and Oceania (Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012; Godino et al., 2017; Missouri Botanical Garden, 2017; PIER, 2017; PROTA, 2017). The native origins of M. oleifera are ambiguous. Vogt (1996) noted that the tree is thought to originate from northern India, and this restricted native range is followed in the distribution list. Von Maydell (1986) and Dalla Rosa (1993) suggest the origin as India and Arabia, whereas others consider East African and/or South East Asian populations as native. According to studies by Olson (2017), M. oleifera is only found in the wild in the hilly lowlands of northwestern India and elsewhere where it is listed as growing in the wild, the species is either found as a cultivated plant or as a remnant of old cultivation.

History
M. oleifera has a long history of use throughout its distribution range. The first uses of the plant's various components date to 150 BC. In Ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian civilizations, the seed oil was prized for its fragrance and cosmetic effects. Consumption of leaves and fruits – believed to promote mental clarity and healthy skin – was common among ancient royalties. Mauryan warriors drank extracts from the leaves before battle for their analgesic and stimulant effects. (Jahn, 1996)

By the 19th century, Europe began importing ben oil from the West Indies for industrial and cosmetic applications.