NEEM TREE

Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, nimtree or Indian lilac, is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is typically grown in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Neem trees also grow on islands in southern Iran. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil.Neem is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 metres, and rarely 35–40 m. It is evergreen, shedding many of its leaves during the dry winter months. The branches are wide and spreading. The fairly dense crown is roundish and may reach a diameter of 20–25 m (66–82 ft).

The neem tree is similar in appearance to its relative, the chinaberry (Melia azedarach). The opposite, pinnate leaves are 20–40 cm long, with 20 to 30 medium to dark green leaflets about 3–8 cm long. The terminal leaflet often is missing. The petioles are short. White and fragrant flowers are arranged in more-or-less drooping axillary panicles which are up to 25 cm long. The inflorescences, which branch up to the third degree, bear from 250 to 300 flowers. An individual flower is 5–6 mm long and 8–11 mm wide. Protandrous, bisexual flowers and male flowers exist on the same individual tree. It can fix 14 micro mole of CO2 per m2 per Sec.

A single mature can absorb carbondioxide at the rate of 48 pounds per year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere.

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