Neem margosa

Azadirachta indica (L')

Tamil name: Vembu

Sanskrit name: Nimbu

Singhala name: Kohomba

Also known as Neem, Nimtree, and Indian Lilac is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India and the Indian subcontinent including Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Typically growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Neem trees now also grow in islands in the southern part of Iran. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil.

A medium to large sized tree, 15-20m in height with a clear bole of 7.0m having grayish to dark grey tubercled bark, leaved compound, imparipinnate, leaflets, subopposutem serrate, very oblique at base; flowers cream or yellowish white in axillary panicles, staminal tubes conspicuous, cylindric, widening above 9-10 lobed at the apex: fruits one-seeded drupes with woody endocarp greenish yellow when ripe, seeds ellipsoid, cotyledons thick, fleshy and oily.