Location in BHU campus :Planted in Botanical garden
Botanical name : Melia azedarach L.
Family : Meliaceae
Vernacular / local Name : Bengali - Mahanim, ghora nim. Gujarati - Bakam limbodo; Hindi - Bakain, drek; Kannada - Arebevu, hutchu bevu; Malayalam-Karin vembu, sima veppu; Marathi-Pejri, padrai; Tamil-Malai vembu; Telugu -Turaka vepa.
English / Trade names : Persian Lilac, Bead Tree.
A medium-sized tree,. Leaves mostly tripinnate, up to 60 cm long; leaflets 1.5 x 0.8-2.5 cm, ovate or lanceolate, serrate. Flowers 6-8 mm long, lilac, fragrant, in large axillary panicles. Fruit a drupe, , globose, yellowish when ripe.
Flowering :March-May
Fruiting: October-January
The flowers are used in worship.
The timber is of high quality and termite resistant. Wood is used for toys, packing cases, agricultural implements, furniture, plywood etc. Many parts of the tree, particularly the fruit is narcotic. Insect repellents and flea powder are made from the fruits. .Extracts from the bark, leaves or roots help to expel intestinal worms and to treat fever, rheumatism and inflammations.