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Azadirachta indica
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Family:
MELIACEAE
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Citation: Azadirachta indica A.Juss., Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 19: 221. 1830; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 177(127). 1915; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 64. 1982; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 111. 1984; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 116. 1990; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 113. 1990; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 110. 1994; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny WLS 61. 1997; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 100. 1996; S.S. Jain & S.S.R. Bennet in Hajra et al., Fl. India 4: 478. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Chinnar WLS 62. 1999; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam WLS 56. 2002; N.C. Nair & N.P. Balakr. in P. Daniel, Fl. Kerala 1: 648. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 167. 2009; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 213. 2009.
Melia azadirachta L., Sp. Pl. 385. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 544. 1875.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Ariyaveppu, Ayurveppu, Kaippanveppu, Nimbam, Veppu
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Tamil name(s):
Neem
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English name(s):
Indian lilac, Margosa tree, Neem, Nimbay, Pichumarda, Yepa
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Description:
Evergreen trees, to 20 m; bark greyish-brown, vertically striated; exudation red, sticky. Leaves imparipinnate, alternate, estipulate; rachis 14-30 cm long, slender, swollen at base, glabrous, leaflets 7-15, opposite or subopposite, estipellate; petiolule 3-5 mm long, slender, glabrous; lamina 4.5-7.5 x 1.5-2.5 cm, lanceolate or falcate, base oblique, apex acuminate, margin serrate, glabrous, coriaceous; lateral nerves 10-18 pairs, pinnate, slender, prominent, intercostae reticulate, faint. Flowers bisexual, 8 mm across, white, in axillary panicles; bracteoles scaly; pedicel 5 mm; sepals 5, connate at base, ovate, margin ciliate; petals 5, free, white, oblong-obovate, pubescent, spreading, imbricate; staminal tube 4 mm long, glabrous, apically 10 lobed; lobes truncate; anthers 10, slightly exserted, apiculate, opposite to lobes, sessile; ovary superior, globose, 3-celled; ovules 2 per cell; style slender, elongate; stigma terete, 3-lobed. Fruit a drupe, 1.5 x 0.5 cm, oblong-ovoid, greenish-yellow; seed one, surrounded by a sweet pulp.
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Habit:
Tree
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Flowering & Fruiting:
February-September
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Dry deciduous forests, also widely planted
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Distribution:
Indo-Malesia
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
White
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Champakkad, Parambikulam, Poonamveli
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