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CLASSIFICATION

ORDER	: Sapindales
FAMILY	: Meliaceae
GENUS	: Azadirachta A. Juss.
SPECIES	: indica A. Juss.
BOTANICAL NAME	: Azadirachta indica A. Juss.
SYNONYMS	: Melia azadirachta L.
COMMON NAME	: Neem.
TAMIL NAME	: Veppai
HINDI NAME	: Neem.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

HABIT :  A tall tree.

STEM :  The bark is dark greyish on the outside and reddish brown inside, and has numerous oblique furrows.

LEAVES :  Alternate, exstipulate, compound, imparipinnate; 7 - 15 shortly stalked pinnae are lanceolate, oblique, serrate, acuminate, unicostate reticulate.

INFLORESCENCE :  Axillary panicle

FLOWERS :  Bracteate, actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, complete, hypogynous, scented, disciferous. Calyx made up of 5 sepals, gamosepalous, light green, valvate. Corolla made up of 5 petals, polypetalous, imbricate. An annular disc present between petals and stamens. Androecium made up of 10, or 8 - 12 monadelphous, filaments unite to form a staminal tube seated at the base of annular disc, anthers dithecous, introrse. Gynoecium tricarpellary, syncarpous, superior, trilocular, two ovules in each locule, axile placentation, style simple, stigma trifid.

FRUIT :  Drupe

SEED :  Fruit one - seeded.

FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME :  February - June, March - August

MEDICINAL USES

In the Indian subcontinent, neem leaves are used to treat dental and gastrointestinal disorders, malaria fevers, skin diseases, and as insects repellent, while the Balinese used neem leaves as a diuretic and for diabetes, headache, heartburn, and stimulating the appetite

All parts of the neem tree- leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots and bark have been used traditionally for the treatment of inflammation, infections, fever, skin diseases and dental disorders.

Neem leaf is used for leprosy, eye disorders, bloody nose, intestinal worms, stomach upset, loss of appetite, skin ulcers, diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), fever, diabetes, gum disease (gingivitis), and liver problems.

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