| Binomial |
Melia azedarach L. |
| Family |
Meliaceae |
| Tamil name |
மலை வேம்பு (Malai Vaembu) |
| Habit |
Medium sized evergreen tree with spreading branches |
| Bark |
Brownish grey outside, deeply fissured and flaking in old trees, young shoots are tomentose (densely matted with woolly hairs) |
| Flowers |
Small, White coloured with purplish blue tinge, 5 petals, narrowly elliptical,
fragrant and star shaped |
| Fruits |
Drupe, ellipsoid, yellow when ripe, thinly fleahy |
| Flowering period |
May to December |
| Pollinators |
Moths and Bees |
| Native to Indian Subcontinent |
The tree is endemic to Assam. In Assam, the flowers are used in cooking and are said to possess medicinal properties. The leaves are used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat skin disease. The oil obtained from the seed is used to treat rheumatism. The twigs are used as a toothbrush to prevent gum diseases. As the tree resembles Mahogany, the timbre is used to make furniture and boxes. The alcoholic extract of the leaves is used as pesticides. Though the tree has numerous medicinal properties, the seeds are poisonous. |
| Location on campus |
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