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Azadirachta excelsa
| Family Name: | Meliaceae |
| Synonyms: | Melia excelsa |
| Common Name: | Giant Neem Tree, Sentang, Setan, Setang |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Large tree, able to grow up to about 45 - 50 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Trunk is usually clear up to 20 m tall, girth size can be up to 12.5 m wide, bark is smooth when young and becomes fissured in older trees. |
| Foliage | Green leaves, alternate arrangement, measuring about 30 - 60 cm long, each leaf has about 7 - 11 pairs of lanceolate to elliptic leaflets measuring about 12.5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. |
| Flowers | Greenish-white fragrant flowers borne on axillary panicle inflorescences up to 70 cm long, each flower measuring about 0.5 - 0.65 cm long and 0.15 - 0.25 cm wide, 5-petaled. |
| Fruit | Fruit is an oblong drupe, measuring about 2.4 - 3.2 cm long, turns from green to yellow when ripen, contains 1 seed. |
| Etymology | Genus Azadirachta is from the Persian word "azad dhirakat" which means "excellent tree" and refers to the economic importance of the plants in the same genus. Species excelsa means tall or imminent. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Fruit or Vegetable): In Peninsular Malaysia, the young shoots, leaves and flowers are consumed as a vegetable. Timber & Products: Wood can be used to make furniture. Oil obtained from the seeds is used to make soap. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Green, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1444 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2737 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
