Neem

Appearance

Neem is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 metres , rarely to 35–40 metres . It is evergreen, but in severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide and spreading. The fairly dense crown is roundish and may reach a diameter of 15–20 metres in old, free-standing specimens. The neem tree is very similar in appearance to its relative, the Chinaberry .

The opposite, pinnate leaves are 20–40 centimetres long, with 20 to 31 medium to dark green leaflets about 3–8 centimetres long. The terminal leaflet is often missing. The petioles are short.

The flowers are arranged in more-or-less drooping axillary panicles which are up to 25 centimetres long. The inflorescences, which branch up to the third degree, bear from 150 to 250 flowers. An individual flower is 5–6 millimetres long and 8–11 millimetres wide. Protandrous, bisexual flowers and male flowers exist on the same individual tree.

The fruit is a smooth olive-like drupe which varies in shape from elongate oval to nearly roundish, and when ripe is 1.4–2.8 centimetres by 1.0–1.5 centimetres . The fruit skin is thin and the bitter-sweet pulp is yellowish-white and very fibrous. The mesocarp is 0.3–0.5 centimetres thick. The white, hard inner shell of the fruit encloses one, rarely two or three, elongated seeds having a brown seed coat.

Status

Neem is considered a weed in many areas, including some parts of the Middle East, and most of Sub-Saharan Africa including West Africa and Indian Ocean states. Ecologically, it survives well in similar environments to its own, but its weed potential has not been fully assessed.

Habitat

The neem tree is noted for its drought resistance. Normally it thrives in areas with sub-arid to sub-humid conditions, with an annual rainfall 400–1,200 millimetres . It can grow in regions with an annual rainfall below 400 mm, but in such cases it depends largely on ground water levels. Neem can grow in many different types of soil, but it thrives best on well drained deep and sandy soils. It is a typical tropical to subtropical tree and exists at annual mean temperatures between 21–32 °C . It can tolerate high to very high temperatures and does not tolerate temperature below 4 °C . Neem is one of a very few shade-giving trees that thrive in drought-prone areas e.g. the dry coastal, southern districts of India and Pakistan. The trees are not at all delicate about water quality and thrive on the merest trickle of water, whatever the quality. In India and tropical countries where the Indian diaspora has reached, it is very common to see neem trees used for shade lining streets, around temples, schools & other such public buildings or in most people's back yards. In very dry areas the trees are planted on large tracts of land.

Uses

Neem leaves are dried in India and placed in cupboards to prevent insects eating the clothes and also while storing rice in tins. Neem leaves are dried and burnt in the tropical regions to keep away mosquitoess shagnik pal . These leaves are also used in many Indian festivals like Ugadi. ''See below: #Association with Hindu festivals in India.'' As Ayurveda herb, Neem is also used in baths.* Toiletries: Neem oil is used for preparing cosmetics such as soap, shampoo, balms and creams as well as toothpaste.
⤷  Toothbrush: Traditionally, slender neem twigs are first chewed as a toothbrush and then split as a tongue cleaner. This practise has been in use in India, Africa, and the Middle East for centuries. Many of India's 80% rural population still start their day with the chewing stick, while in urban areas neem toothpaste is preferred. Neem twigs are still collected and sold in markets for this use, and in rural India one often sees youngsters in the streets chewing on neem twigs. It has been found to be equally effective as a toothbrush in reducing plaque and gingival inflammation.
⤷  Tree: Besides its use in traditional Indian medicine, the neem tree is of great importance for its anti-desertification properties and possibly as a good carbon dioxide sink.
⤷  Practitioners of traditional Indian medicine recommend that patients with chicken pox sleep on neem leaves.
⤷  Neem gum is used as a bulking agent and for the preparation of special purpose foods.
⤷  Neem blossoms are used in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to prepare Ugadi pachhadi. A mixture of neem flowers and jaggery is prepared and offered to friends and relatives, symbolic of sweet and bitter events in the upcoming new year, Ugadi. "''Bevina hoovina gojju''" is common in Karnataka throughout the year. Dried blossoms are used when fresh blossoms are not available. In Tamil Nadu, a rasam made with neem blossoms is a culinary specialty.
⤷ Cosmetics : Neem is perceived in India as a beauty aid. Powdered leaves are a major component of at least one widely used facial cream. Purified neem oil is also used in nail polish and other cosmetics.
⤷ Bird repellent: Neem leaf boiled in water can be used as a very cost effective bird repellent, especially for sparrows.
⤷ Lubricant : Neem oil is non drying and it resists degradation better than most vegetable oils. In rural India, it is commonly used to grease cart wheels.
⤷ Fertilizer : Neem has demonstrated considerable potential as a fertilizer. Neem cake is widely used to fertilize cash crops, particularly sugarcane and vegetables. Ploughed into the soil, it protects plant roots from nematodes and white ants, probably as it contains the residual limonoids. In Karnataka, people grow the tree mainly for its green leaves and twigs, which they puddle into flooded rice fields before the rice seedlings are transplanted.
⤷ Resin : An exudate can be tapped from the trunk by wounding the bark. This high protein material is not a substitute for polysaccharide gum, such as gum arabic. It may however, have a potential as a food additive, and it is widely used in South Asia as "Neem glue".
⤷ Bark : Neem bark contains 14% tannin, an amount similar to that in conventional tannin yielding trees . Moreover, it yields a strong, coarse fibre commonly woven into ropes in the villages of India.
⤷ Honey : In parts of Asia neem honey commands premium prices, and people promote apiculture by planting neem trees.
⤷ Soap : 80% of India's supply of neem oil is now used by neem oil soap manufacturers. Although much of it goes to small scale speciality soaps, often using cold-pressed oil, large scale producers also use it, mainly because it is cheap. Additionally it is antibacterial and antifungal, soothing and moisturising. It can be made with up to 40% neem oil. Well known brands include Margo. Generally, the crude oil is used to produce coarse laundry soaps.