Compilation
Melia azedarach

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Name

Identification
Melia azedarach L. [family MELIACEAE ]
Related name
  • Melia azedarach
Common name
  • dim i tubab = zizyphus [jujube] of the whiteman; in confusion with Azadirachta indica A. Juss; (JMD) (SENEGAL, WOLOF), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • busank (NWT) (SIERRA LEONE, LIMBA), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • lilas de Perse; lilas du Japon; orgueil des Indes; lilas des Falls (Congo)., Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • bεkinguru (NWT) (SIERRA LEONE, LOKO), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • bσtimi (NWT) (SIERRA LEONE, MENDE), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • Persian lilac; pride of India; bead tree; bastard cedar; China berry (USA, Irvine)., Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • luxεrekunkuri (NWT) (SIERRA LEONE, SUSA), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • sâgomar (JB; K&A) (SENEGAL, SERER), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4

Flora

Entry for Melia azedarach [family MELIACEAE]
Herbarium
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Collection
Flora of Southern Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Names
Melia azedarach [family MELIACEAE]
Information
Medium-sized rapidly growing short-lived deciduous tree up to 15 m tall, sometimes flowering as a shrub. Leaves up to 400 mm long; leaflets up to 55x25 mm, more or less lanceolate, apex acuminate or subacuminate, margin rather deeply crenate or serrate; lower surface sparsely puberulous, glabrescent. Calyx 2,5 mm long, densely stellate-puberulous. Petals up to 8x3 mm, pale lilac, spathulate. Staminal tube up to 7 mm long, dark purple, glabrous outside, hairy inside; appendages c. 1 mm long. Drupe pale yellow, up to 20x10 mm. Chromosome number. 2n=28 (various origins). Fig. 14.
Habitat
The fruit of Melia has long been known to be poiso­nous to some animals including the pig, and the deaths of children have been reported. Four highly toxic meliatoxins (a group of limonoids) have,recently been discovered in the fruit flesh. Fully ripe fruit, however, appears to be much less toxic than fruit just beginning to ripen. The endocarp of the fruits, which are easily pierced at the ends, are used for beads.
Use
Melia azedarach L., Sp. PI. 1: 384 (1753); Curtis's bot. Mag. 27, fig. 1066 (1807); Sond. in F.C. 1: 246 (1860); C. DC. in Monogr. Phan. 1: 451 (1878); Burtt Davy, Fl. Transv. 2:486 (1932); O. B. Miller in Jl S. Afr. Bot. 18: 39 (1952); White & Styles in F.Z. 2: 315 (1963); Ross, Fl. Natal 216 (1972); Mab­berley in Gdns' Bull., Singapore 37: 55 (1984). Type: Holland, De Hartecamp, cult. Hort. Cliff. 161.1 (BM, lecto. of Mabberley, 1984).
Range
Widely planted for ornament in all the warmer parts of southern Africa. In places it is naturalized and has become a pest. As early as 1906 it was established near Barberton, and now, in the Transvaal, it is the most widespread and agressive of the invasive introduced trees. The cultivar 'Umbraculifera', the Texas Umbrella Tree, a mutant with a flattened crown, is sometimes grown in gardens. Map 39.

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