The Neem |
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![]() The Neem tree or Margousier in India
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Azadirachta indica A. Juss 1830 |
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Classical classification | |
Vegetable kingdom | Plantae |
Division | Magnoliophyta |
Class | Magnoliopsida |
Sub-class | Rosidae |
Orders | Sapindales |
Family | Meliaceae |
Type | Azadirachta |
Etymology | - Neem tree, beads tree, Indian Lilac because of its purple flowers (do not confuse it with the Lagerstroemia Indica which is also called Indian Lilac). - Neem tree, Indian lilac, Margosa tree, Persian lilac or China berry. - Proper nouns in India: Nim, Neem, Balnimb (Hindu), Nimba (Sanskrit), Vepu, Vempu, Veppam (Tamil), Vepa (Telugu), and Limba (Gujarat). |
Active components of the Neem oil | Free fatty acid (as oleic), steraic, linoleic, palitic, myristic. |
Climat | The pluviometry, between 400 and 1200mm, can content itself with less if the level of the ground water is high enough. It adapts itself to sandy or drained soils (PH 6, 2-7, 0) but also to the poor soils. Favourable temperature to its development: 21°C to 32°C. It tolerates very high temperature but not below 4°C. |