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Neem is considered sacred because of its medicinal properties
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PHOTO: MOHAMMED YOUSUF
ALWAYS USEFUL The breeze from the neem tree is considered beneficial
Known as Neem in Hindi; Vepu in Tamil and Malayalam; Yappachettu in Telugu, this is one of the best-known and important trees in the country. In Persian it is called Azad darakht, which means noble tree.
Though a native of Burma, neem is commonly found in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Neem is considered sacred and health giving because of its medicinal properties. It also provides shade and the breeze from it is also considered good for health. The wood is used in carving and twigs as chew stick and toothbrush. The seeds yield Margosa oil that is used in soap manufacture and as insecticide for plants. Oil cake is used as manure. The leaves, barks and root have certain tonic properties and are used in Indian medicine. Leaves made into pulp paste are applied on boils, eczema, ulcers and all skin problems.
Neem also acts as a mosquito repellent.
The tree is a large evergreen up to 15 metres in height with a spreading crown. Leaves are crowded at the end of the branch-lets. Leaflets are borne opposite, short stalked, lance shaped and toothed with a terminal one. Flowers are borne on 10-20 cm long panicles. Flowers are small 0.5 cm, fragrant and cream coloured.Fruit is 1-2 cm long egg shaped yellow when ripe with a hard stone enclosing 1-2 seeds, borne in auxiliary bunches with five sepals and five spoon shaped oblong fragrant petals and honeyed. Birds relish the fruits.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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