INTRODUCTION TO CINNA BERRY TREE

       CINNA BERRY

Family – Meliaceae

Scientific name – Melia azedarach

COMMON NAMES :

1. Persian lilac or Bead Tree. Bakain, drek.
2. Melia is the Greek name of the Ash.
3. It is not an appropriate name for this tree which does not resemble an ash.
4. Azedarach (azad-darakht) is the Persian name for this tree.
5. Cinna berry in English.

GENERAL INFORMATION :

1. A moderate-sized deciduous tree, bark dark grey with long shallow vertical Assures.
2. Leaves 9—18 inches long, much divided into separate leaflets which are 0.5—2 inches long.
3. Flowers very numerous, 0.3- inch long, in loose clusters amongst the upper leaves, sweet-scented. Petals 5 or 6, lilac, rather narrow, spreading or somewhat recurved.
4. Stamens with the filaments united into a purple tube about 0.25- inch long, the tube toothed at the slightly widened top, anthers 10 or 12, sessile between the teeth of the tube on its inner side.
5. 
   
   
   
   
6. Fruit 0.5-inch in diameter, globular, yellow and plump when ripe but becoming wrinkled, remaining long on the trees, containing a very hard usually 5—6 celled stone.
7. Leafless during the winter, the flowers appearing soon after the young foliage in March, April.
8. Fruit ripens after the monsoon, gradually drying and shrinking, and much of the fruit often still on the trees when the fresh leaves appear.
9. The common form of this tree has rather long branches which form a loose open crown.
10. Another form, sometimes seen, has a dense umbrella-shaped crown.
11. A third form flowers as a seedling, and continues flowering at irregular intervals for a few years by which time it has reached about 6 feet in height and begins to die off.
12. These forms come true to seed.

USES OF THE BEAD TREE :

1. Mainly used for ornament.
2. The tree is not long-lived and cannot be relied upon for more than about 20 years by which time it starts to die of and should be replaced.
3. The timber is not usually appreciated but is of fair quality, works well and is not
4. subject to insect attack.
5. The fruits are said to be poisonous and are used to some extent medicinally as is also the inner bark.
6. The stones of the fruits are used for necklaces and rosaries.

PROPAGATION :

1. By seed.
2. It is very easily grown and is a fast growing tree.

HABITAT :

1. Indigenous in some of the Himalayan valleys and in Upper Burma.
2. Cultivated and naturalized in all the less tropical parts of India and similar subtropical regions throughout the world.

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INTRODUCTION TO NEEM TREE

 

NEEM TREE

   Family = Meliaceae                 Scientific Name = Azadirachta indica

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Common Names –

1.    Or Margosa tree

2.    Nim in Hindi

3.    Nimgach in Bengali

4.    Nimba in Marathi and Gujrati

5.    Vepa in Tamil and Malayalam

Growing areas –

1.    Mostly originated in India, but now grows also in Shri Lanka and Malaysia.

                                                                                 (a) 

(b)

(c)

                                                         

a)    India

b)    Shri Lanka

c)     Malaysia

2.    It is hardy tree and grows in many condition, preferring dry areas.

General information –

1.    It is medium to large evergreen tree.

2.    It is fairly fast growing with the rough pale grey-brown bark.

3.    The trunk of this tree grow at a certain height before the branching starts.

4.    In the drier areas the tree become deciduous.

5.    This tree is also called a miraculous tree due it’s features.

 

 

Leaves, Flowers and fruit of the Neem tree

LEAVES OF THE NEEM TREE –

         1.    The growing period of the new leaves is through out the 

              year but mainly new leaves grows in March and April, to 

              replace the old leaves that have fallen.

2.    The leaves are fresh green but sometimes rust tinted when new.

3.    The leaves are shining and crowed together near the end of the branches.

4.    The leaves of the neem tree absorb carbon dioxide in more amount than other tree, due to this they release more amount of oxygen.

5.    For this reason it is healthy tree to grow in gardens, or near houses.

FLOWERS OF THE NEEM TREE –

1.    The flowers are tiny pale cream-coloured and star-shaped five-petalled flowers hang under the leaves.

2.    The flowers are grow in March to May and again during the rains.

3.    Their strong perfume attracts the insects.

4.    The flowers are difficult to see.

FRUIT OF THE NEEM TREE –

1.    These are small berries, yellow when ripe.

2.    Birds and bees love their sweet-tasting juice.

3.    The fruits give off a strong unpleasant smell after the rain.

USES OF THE NEEM TREE –

1.    These trees are planted along the roads to give the shade.

2.    The most famous product of this tree is oil obtained from it’s seed, Margosa oil used for treating skin disease.

3.    This tree has many medicinal uses, it is difficult to decide how to start listing them.

4.    The wood is heavy and drives away insects.

5.    It is often used for building boats.

6.    The twigs are used in place of toothbrush and tooth paste, particularly in poor and village side.

7.    The leaves are used for treating boils.

       8.      In north India the trees grow so well that there is often a 

              sturdy (strongly and solidly built) branch onto which a swing 

              can be attached.   

(a)

(b)

(c)

                                               

a)     Neem trees along the road

b)     Twigs of the Neem tree used as toothbrush

c)     Margosa oil from the Margosa tree(neem tree).

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