Family: Meliaceae
Author: A.Juss.
Bibliography: Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. 19: 221 (1830 publ. 1831)
Year: 1831
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Azadirachta
Vegetable: False
Observations: Assam to Indo-China
Description
Neem, scientifically known as Azadirachta indica and referenced in A.Juss.’s work in “Mémoires du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle” (Volume 19: Page 221, published in 1831), is a remarkable plant renowned for its versatility and beneficial properties. Indigenous to a region spanning from Assam to Indo-China, Neem has been a cornerstone of traditional medicine and agriculture in these areas for centuries.
Neem is a member of the Meliaceae family, which is known for its trees and shrubs with significant utilitarian benefits. The Neem tree is celebrated for its robustness and capacity to thrive in arid, semi-arid, and tropical environments, making it a crucial resource in areas where soil fertility and water availability pose significant challenges.
Traditionally, nearly every part of the Neem tree—roots, bark, leaves, seeds, and flowers—has been used in various ways. Neem leaves are renowned for their antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, making them a staple in natural remedies for skin conditions, wounds, and infections. The oil extracted from Neem seeds is a potent antiseptic, and its application extends to skincare products aiming to treat acne and other skin disorders.
The Neem tree’s significance extends beyond medicinal usage. It plays a vital role in agriculture as a natural pesticide. Neem oil and Neem-based products serve as potent insect repellents, protecting crops from pests without the harmful effects associated with synthetic chemicals. This eco-friendly attribute underscores Neem’s importance in sustainable farming practices.
Neem’s applications further extend to personal care, where it is incorporated into shampoos, soaps, and oral care products. Its potential to combat dental plaque and other oral issues highlights its importance in hygiene and health sectors.
In summary, Neem (Azadirachta indica) represents a botanical marvel with profound applications ranging from medicinal to agricultural uses. Rooted in the traditional practices of regions from Assam to Indo-China, this member of the Meliaceae family stands as a testament to nature’s prodigious capacity to provide for diverse human needs.
Common Names
Eng: indian lilac, indian-lilac, neem, nimtree, neem tree
Spa: neem
Por: margosa, neem, neem-indiano, nim-indiano, nimbo
Fra: margosier
Swe: nimträd
Khm: ស្ដៅ
Hin: neem, balnimb
Mal: aryaveppu
Kan: kahi-beyu
Guj: limdo
Mar: nimb
Ben: nimgach
Msa: sadu, baypay, mambu
Tam: vepa, veppu
Vie: saafu daau, sàu-dàu
En: Neem, Indian lilac, Neem Tree, Indian-lilac, Nimtree
Ar: نيم شائع
As: নিম
Bn: নিম, Nimgach
My: တမာပင်
Ca: Nim
Ny: Nimu
Hr: Nim
Eo: Hinda azadiraĥto
Fi: Neempuu, Neembuu
Fr: Margousier, Lilas blanc, Lilas mauve, Nime, Margosier, Lilas de Perse
Gl: Árbore do nim
De: Niembaum
Gu: લીમડો, Limdo
Ht: Nim
He: אזדרכת הודית
Hi: नीम, Neem, Balnimb
Is: Dísartré
Id: Mimba
Ja: インドセンダン
Kn: ಬೇವು, Kahi-beyu
Km: ស្តៅ, SDAV, ស្ដៅ
Kv: Ним
Ku: Maûna hindî
Lv: Nīms
Ms: Pokok Mambu, Sadu, Baypay, Mambu
Ml: ആര്യവേപ്പ്, Aryaveppu
Mr: कडुलिंब, Nimb
Ne: नीम
Nb: Neem
Nn: Neem
Or: ନିମ୍ବ
Pa: ਨਿੰਮ
Fa: چریش
Pl: Miodla indyjska
Pt: Neem, Margosa, Neem-indiano, Nim-indiano, Nimbo
Ru: Ним
Sa: निम्बः
Sd: نم
Si: කොහොඹ
So: Geed Hindi
Es: Lilayo, Neem
Sw: Mwarobaini
Sv: Neem, Nimträd
Ta: வேம்பு, Vepa, Veppu
Te: వేప
Th: สะเดา
To: Nimi
Uk: Нім
Ur: نیم
Vi: Sầu đâu, Saafu daau, Sàu-dàu
Wo: Cassia
Synonyms
- Melia japonica (Hassk.)
- Melia fraxinifolia (Salisb.)
- Melia pinnata (Stokes)
- Melia indica ((A.Juss.) Brandis)
- Azadirachta indica var. minor (Valeton)
- Melia parviflora (Moon)
- Azadirachta indica var. siamensis (Valeton)
- Melia hasskarlii (K.Koch)
- Antelaea javanica (Gaertn.)
- Antelaea canescens (Cels ex Heynh.)
- Antelaea azadirachta ((L.) Adelb.)
- Azadirachta indica subsp. vartakii (Kothari, Londhe & N.P.Singh)
- Melia azadirachta (L.)
Distribution
- Assam (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Cambodia (native)
- Laos (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Andaman Is. (introduced)
- Aruba (introduced)
- Burkina (introduced)
- Cameroon (introduced)
- Central African Repu (introduced)
- Chad (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- East Himalaya (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- El Salvador (introduced)
- Gambia (introduced)
- Ghana (introduced)
- Guinea (introduced)
- Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- India (introduced)
- Iran (introduced)
- Jamaica (introduced)
- Jawa (introduced)
- Kenya (introduced)
- Laccadive Is. (introduced)
- Leeward Is. (introduced)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
- Malaya (introduced)
- Mauritania (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Nepal (introduced)
- Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
- Niger (introduced)
- Nigeria (introduced)
- Oman (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Rwanda (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Somalia (introduced)
- Sri Lanka (introduced)
- Sudan (introduced)
- Sumatera (introduced)
- Tanzania (introduced)
- Togo (introduced)
- Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
- Uganda (introduced)
- Windward Is. (introduced)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Sep 11, 2008 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 4, 2021 by Shaan Mohammad (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 11, 2008 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 7, 2022 by sylvia fu (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 22, 2022 by 1F DZ (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jul 18, 2022 by Loïc WILTORD (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 19, 2019 by Lauriane Maurer (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 9, 2020 by Paul Mather (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Bark
Taken Dec 20, 2021 by Guillermo Ruiz Garzón (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 1, 2019 by Samuel Baret (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 13, 2019 by Renata Renata (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 5, 2020 by Planter King (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 10, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken May 29, 2022 by Pistache RE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 7, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 24, 2021 by Welthon Tavares (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2016 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 22, 2021 by RICARDO JUNIOR ACUÑA REDONDO (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken May 10, 2016 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2016 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 7, 2020 by Aravind Sivakumar (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 25, 2019 by Ribeiro Poliana (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 2, 2019 by Brett Bissell someguy (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jun 7, 2018 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jun 10, 2021 by A.M. Moon (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 21, 2022 by María Alberdi (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3190474)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1213180-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Azadirachta indica A.Juss.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Tree