2 44 MeliaceCB. \Azadirachta. 



Moist low country ; rather common. Fl. Feb.; white. 



Also in the Indian Peninsula, and has a wide range through Tropical 

 Asia, Africa, and Australia. 



A tree of extremely rapid growth. Wood much used, light, soft, pale 

 brownish-red, with large pores. The outriggers of native boats are always 

 made of this. 



M. A^edarach, L., the Indian or Persian Lilac or Bead-tree, is often 

 cultivated. Specimens are in Hermann's Herb., and it is n. 162 in Fl. 

 Zeyl. It is native in Northern India, China, and Persia, and perhaps also 

 in the West Indies {M. seiiipcrvircfis, Sw.). 



3. AZADZRACKTA, A. Jiiss. 



Trees ; 1. pinnate. As in Me/ia, btit ov, 3-celled, with 

 2 collateral ovules in each cell, stigma 3-lobed ; stone of drupe 

 I -celled, I -seeded; no endosperm. — Monotypic. 



A. indica, A.Juss. hi Mem. Mies. xix. 221 (1830). Kohomba, S. 

 Vdmpu, T. 



Burm. Thes. 40. Fl. Zeyl. n. 161. Melia Azadirachta, L. Sp. Plant. 

 385. Moon Cat. 35. Thw. Enum. 59. C. P. 1159. 



Fl. B. Ind. i. 544 {Melia Azadirachta) (not given for Ceylon). Wight, 

 Ic. t. 17. Burm. Thes. t. 15. 



A tall tree, with straight trunk and long, spreading 

 branches, bark brown, rugged, young parts glabrous; 1. rather 

 crowded, pinnate, rachis 6-9 in., glabrous, Iflts. 2-8 pair and a 

 terminal one, opposite or alternate, very shortly stalked, 

 2-4 in., lanceolate-falcate, very unequal-sided, oblique at base, 

 alternate, coarsely dentate-serrate, glabrous, pale green ; fl. 

 small, in lax, narrow, axillary panicles 5-8 in. long ; sep. 

 rounded, finely ciliate ; pet. spathulate-oblong, ciliate ; stam.- 

 tube dilated above, hairy within, teeth truncate, trifid, recurved, 

 anth. small, erect; drupe oblong-ovoid, |^-| in., blunt, smooth, 

 dark purple; pulp scanty, endocarp bony; seed solitary. 



Dr\' country, common ; planted elsewhere in Ceylon. Fl. March- 

 May ; white, sweet-scented. 



Also throughout India. 



This tree is generally known by its Portuguese name, ' Margosa.' In 

 India it is called ' Nim.' Wood moderately heavy, very hard, dark red, 

 with large pores. The bark is astringent and bitter, and used as a febri- 

 fuge and tonic. The oil from the seeds, Kohomba-tel, is a universal 

 external application for rheumatism, &c., and as an insecticide. Thw. 

 states that the juice of the leaves, which is very bitter, is used as an 

 anthelmintic for cattle. 



Stands drought well, and much planted as an avenue and roadside tree 

 in the Jaffna district. 



M. pannJlo7-ay Moon, is erroneously cited for this in Fl. B. Ind. 



