TreeCultivatedPerennialMedicinal

Melia azedarach L.

Bakain · Dhareek

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Description

Melia azedarach is a medium-sized deciduous tree, usually 8–20 m tall, with a broad rounded crown. The trunk is grey-brown with longitudinal fissures in mature trees. Branches are spreading, and young shoots are green and smooth. Leaves are large, alternate, and bipinnately compound, usually 30–60 cm long. Primary leaf axes bear secondary branches with numerous leaflets. Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate, 2–7 cm long, with serrated margins and pointed tips. Leaves turn yellow before falling. Flowers are small, bisexual, fragrant, and actinomorphic, arranged in large axillary or terminal panicles. Flowers are pale lilac to white, with five petals and a prominent dark staminal tube containing ten stamens. The ovary is superior. Fruits are round, yellowish berries (drupes), usually 1–2 cm in diameter, persistent on branches after leaf fall. Each fruit contains a hard stone with several seeds.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative

Deciduous tree. Large bipinnate leaves. Many small serrated leaflets.

Floral

Fragrant lilac-coloured flowers. Purple staminal tube.

Fruit & Seed

Persistent yellow berries. Fruits remain after leaves fall.

Distribution

Native range: Native to South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia region.

In Pakistan: Commonly cultivated in Pakistan, India, China. Often planted as Avenue tree, Shade tree.

Phenology

Flowering

Fruiting

Flowering: March–May Fruiting: Summer–winter

Ethnobotany & Uses

Medicinal Importance

Leaves used for Insect control, Skin ailments, Bark and roots. Used traditionally for Fever, Intestinal problems. Contains Limonoids, Flavonoids, Triterpenoids.

Agricultural Importance

Seeds and leaves possess insecticidal properties and have been investigated as botanical pesticides.

Wood Uses

Wood used for Furniture, Fuel, Carving.

Cultural Importance

Seeds are traditionally used for Beads, Decorative items.

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Where it grows on campus

South Campus54East-South-East Campus64West Campus41North-East Campus11North-North-West Campus108

278

individuals mapped across 5 zones

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Taxonomic Notes

Melia azedarach is closely related to neem (Azadirachta indica) but differs by Larger bipinnate leaves, Purple fragrant flowers, Persistent yellow berries. The genus Melia belongs to Meliaceae, a family economically important for Timber trees, Medicinal plants, Biopesticide sources.