Azadirachta indica

Family – Meliaceae

Common name – Neem

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 meters. The tree has a woody, erect, cylindrical stem that branches out as it matures. The leaves are compound, bipinnate, and imparipinnate, with lanceolate, entire, and glabrous leaflets. Inflorescence is axillary panicle. Flowers are actinomorphic, bisexual and hypogynous. he fruit is a smooth olive-like drupe. The fruit skin (exocarp) is thin and the bitter-sweet pulp (mesocarp) is yellowish-white and very fibrous. The white, hard inner shell (endocarp) of the fruit encloses one elongated seed having a brown seed coat.

Neem leaves are dried and used as insecticide. Neem fruit, seeds, leaves, stems, and bark contain diverse phytochemicals, such as azadirachtin. It is used in the traditional medicine for treating skin troubles and rheumatism, but there are insufficient clinical evidences for medicinal purposes. Neem twigs are often used for teeth-cleaning. It is a key ingredient in providing a natural alternative to synthetic pesticides. It may be used as a fertilizer. The neem tree is used as a good carbon dioxide sink and maintaining soil fertility. Neem extract is added to fertilizers (urea) as a nitrification inhibitor.