NEEM TREE

Azadirachta indica

Reference No :

0000008

Scientific Name :

Azadirachta indica

Sinhala Name :

කොහොඹ (KOHOMBA)

Tamil Name :

வேப்பை மரம் (VEPPAI MARAM)

Other Common Names :

Nimtree, Indian lilac

Synonyms :

Plant Family :

Meliaceae

Plant Group :

Angiosperms (Enclosed Seed)

Plant Types :

Medium Tree

Crown Architecture :

Spreading Canopy
Weeping Standard Canopy

Plant Categories :

Agricultural plants;   Bird Attractive Plants;   Border Plants;   Canopy plants;   Common Landscaping Plants;   Courtyard Plants;   Dark Green Plants;   Dry Zone Plants;   Flowering Plants;   Forest Trees;   Fruiting Plants;   Herbal Plants;   High Leaves Density Plants;   Home Garden Plants;   Intermediate Zone Plants;   Large Trees;   Low Maintenance Plants;   Medium Size Trees;   Ornamental Plants;   Parking Area Plants;   Roadside Plants;   Shady Plants;   Sun Loving Plants;   Thick Green Plants;   Trees;   Wet Zone Plants;   Wild Plants;   Wind Controlling Plants;   Wood Value Plants

Native Region(s) :

Indian Subcontinent

Plant Distribution(s) :

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar

Habitat :

Mixed forests. Evergreen lowland forests

Elevation :

Above sea level up to 1,500 m

Average Height :

15 - 20m

Maximum Height :

40m

Average Width :

20m

Maximum Width :

25m

Root System(s) :

Tap Root

Propogation(s) :

By Seeds;   By Air Layering (Marcotting);   By Cutting (Root)

Average Longevity :

more than 75 years

Medicinal Use :

Yes

Medicinal Value :

Leaves, Seeds, Roots and Bark for Fevers, Skin ailments, Wounds, Coughs, Asthma, Eye diseases and Worms in Sinhala Ayurveda

Benefits & Uses :

Dried leaves are insect repellent.

Neem oil and leaves have the ability to cause some forms of toxic encephalopathy and ophthalmopathy if consumed in any quantity.

Tree: the neem tree is of great importance for its anti-desertification properties and possibly as a good carbon dioxide sink.

Fertilizer: Neem extract is added to fertilizers (urea) as a nitrification inhibitor.

Soap: 80% of India's supply of neem oil now is used by neem oil soap manufacturers. Although much of it goes to small-scale speciality soaps, often using cold-pressed oil, large-scale producers also use it, mainly because it is cheap. Additionally it is antibacterial and antifungal, soothing, and moisturising. It can be made with up to 40% neem oil. Generally, the crude oil is used to produce coarse laundry soaps.

Animal feed: Neem leaves can be occasionally used as forage for ruminants and rabbits

Special Features :

Dried leaves are insect repellent Neem oil and leaves have the ability to cause some forms of toxic encephalopathy and ophthalmopathy if consumed in any quantity. Tree: the neem tree is of great importance for its anti-desertification properties and possibly as a good carbon dioxide sink. Fertilizer: Neem extract is added to fertilizers (urea) as a nitrification inhibitor. Soap: 80% of India's supply of neem oil now is used by neem oil soap manufacturers. Although much of it goes to small-scale speciality soaps, often using cold-pressed oil, large-scale producers also use it, mainly because it is cheap. Additionally it is antibacterial and antifungal, soothing, and moisturising. It can be made with up to 40% neem oil. Generally, the crude oil is used to produce coarse laundry soaps. Animal feed: Neem leaves can be occasionally used as forage for ruminants and rabbits

Plant Disease(s) :

No serious insect or disease problems.

Foliage

Leaf / Habit :

Evergreen

Leaf Shape :

Falcate shape

Arrangements :

Simple

Leaf Arrangement :

Opposite leaf arrangement

Leaves :

20-40 cm long, with 20-31 medium to dark green leaflets about 3-8 cm long. The leaf stalks (petioles) are short. Very young leaves are reddish to purplish in colour. The shape of mature leaflets is more or less asymmetric and their margins are toothed (dentate). 

Flowering

Is Flowering :

Yes

Blossoms :

Arise from the junction of the stem and petiole (are arranged axillary), normally in more-or-less drooping flower clusters (panicles) which are up to 25 cm long. These branching inflorescences, bear from 150 to 250 flowers. An individual flower is 5-6 mm long and 8-11 mm wide. 

Blooming Season :

March;   April

Fruiting

Bears Fruits :

Yes

Fruit :

A smooth (glabrous) olive-like drupe which varies in shape from elongate oval to nearly roundish, and when ripe are 1.4-2.8 x 1.0-1.5 cm. The fruit skin is thin and turns yellow when ripe. The bitter-sweet pulp is yellowish-white and very fibrous. The pulp is 0.3-0.5 cm thick. The white, hard inner shell of the fruit encloses one, rarely two or three 

Fruiting Season :

May;   June

Seeds :

Elongated seeds (kernels) having a brown seed coat. Birds are known to gorge themselves on the fruits but they are extremely poisonous to mammals.

Maintenance

Level :

Medium

Soil Types :

Sandy Soil;   Clay Soil;   Loam Soil;   Acidic (pH 5.5>) to Alkaline (pH 8.5 <);   Well Drained Soil

Water :

Medium/Moderate

Sunlight :

Full

Humidity :

Average

Edibility

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