લીમડો

Azadirachta indica

Neem नीम

Naturalised Native

Commonly known as Margosa, Indian lilac, Nimbay, Pichumarda, The Neem Tree.

The tree that shows up in half of India's home remedies. A tough, fast grower reaching 15 metres (occasionally 25), with a dense, rounded crown and small fragrant white flowers, Neem is genuinely considered a pharmacy in its own right in Ayurveda, where nearly every part of the plant is put to use.

The plant

Habit Tree

Origin Naturalised, Native

Flowering Monsoon, Summer

Edible Yes

Sourcing Available

Growing it

Water Drought tolerant once established

Drainage Must not sit wet

Soil Takes poor soil

Started from Seed, Cuttings, Layering

Life it supports

No specific wildlife-relationship data recorded for this species.

How to grow it

Best sown as soon as the seed is ripe; it doesn't need pre-treatment, though cleaning the pulp off first improves germination noticeably.
Sow in a nursery bed, direct in the ground, or in containers, covered with about 1cm of compost.
Mature seed germinates within a week at 75-90%.
Pot up seedlings once they reach about 5cm tall.
Can also be propagated by air-layering or root cuttings.

The story

No cultural-significance data recorded beyond its extensive Ayurvedic medicinal use, described above.

What it is used for

Fresh or cooked fruit is eaten as a dessert or brewed into a lemonade-style drink; young leaves and flowers, though bitter, are eaten as a pre-meal appetiser.
Neem contains meliacins, triterpenoid bitters, tannins, and flavonoids, making it a detoxicant, fever-reducer, and antiparasitic in Ayurvedic medicine.
Leaf teas treat malaria, ulcers, and intestinal worms; seed oil is a strong antifungal and antiseptic; and twigs are traditionally chewed as toothbrushes, effective enough that dentists recognise their gum-health benefits.
Neem oil is also used as an inexpensive natural spermicide for birth control, and neem cake (the leftover after oil extraction) doubles as organic fertiliser that also suppresses soil pests like nematodes and fungi.

These uses are documented for information only and are not medical advice. Always verify the species and the plant part before use.

Where it is found

Native across India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Occurs 'wild' in the Shivalik hills and dry forests of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, and is widely cultivated across India, especially in drier regions.

Sources

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