MELIA AZADIRACHTA. Linn., Roxb.
Aria bepou, Rheede. I Azadirachta Indies, Jass.
Kohomba in . CEYLON. I Margosa tree, . . . Esc. Lien-tsze, . . . CHIN. Nim, ..... . HIND. Ku•lien-tsze Veyrun I Kin-ling-tsze, . . . „ Yepa, TEL An ornamental tree, very much planted in avenues and groves, common throughout India, Burma, in Hu-peh in China, and in Ceylon, gener ally in a planted state, though occasionally in the forests ; it grows well in almost any soil in the plains, and occasionally attains very large girth. The wood is very like mahogany, beautifully mottled, hard, and heavy ; it is much used for cart-wheels and ordinary building purposes, and old trees yield a first-rate furniture wood, and which is much used in Bengal in the manufacture of idols, as it is so bitter that no insect will attack it. The bark is very bitter ; the leaves beaten into a pulp are externally applied with great efficacy incases of pustular eruptions, in rheumatism, and for bruises and sprains . and the leaves are useful
in keeping away the boring-worm from books. The dried leaves are often added to common poultices by the natives, and are said to act in . preventing glandular tumours from coming to maturity. The fruit yields an acrid bitter oil, which is exported from the Madras Presidency ; it is said to have valuable antispasmodic properties, and is anthelmintic and stimulant. It is used by the natives as a remedy in leprosy, and as a lini ment for rheumatic affections ; it is obtained by boiling or expression, is of a deep yellow colour, and is used for burning in lamps. The bark yields a gum which is said to be a stimulant. A toddy called veypam khalloo is obtained from young trees.—Beddome, El. Sylv.