Common Name : Neem

It is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15-20m, rarely to 35-40m. It is evergreen but under severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide spread. The fairly dense crown is roundish or oval and may reach the diameter of 15-20m in old, free-standing specimens. The trunk is relatively short, straight and may reach a diameter of 1.2m. The bark is hard, fissured or scaly, and whitish-grey to reddish-brown. The sapwood is greyish-white and the heartwood reddish when first exposed to the air becoming reddish-brown after exposure. The root system consists of a strong taproot and well-developed lateral roots. The alternate, pinnate leaves are 20-40cm long, with 20-31 medium to dark green leaflets about 3-8cm long. The shape of mature leaflets is more or less asymmetric and their margins are serrated. The flowers (white and fragrant) are arranged axillary, normally more-or less drooping panicles which are up to 25cm long. The inflorescences, which branch up to the third degree, bear 150-250 flowers. An individual flower is 5-6mm long and 8-11mm wide. The fruit is an olive-like drupe which varies in shape from elongate oval to nearly roundish, and when ripe are 1.4-2.8 x 1.0-1.5cm.