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Melia azedarach

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Sapindales Family: Meliaceae Genus: Melia

‘inia, bead tree, Chinaberry, Indian lilac, pride of India

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Trees occasionally up to 20 m tall.

Stems: Bark bitter, astringent, reddish brown, becoming furrowed with age, branches spreading.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound (pinnate). Alternate. Leaflets ovate to lanceolate, 2–3 times pinnately compound leaves usually 2–8 cm long, 3–7 cm long. Apex acute to long-acuminate. Base wedge–shaped. Surfaces glabrate with age. Margins subentire to serrate. Secondary veins 12-16 on each side of midvein, outspread and ascending. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in axillary panicles, peduncles 1–3 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect) and staminate on a single plant. Calyx 5(6)-lobed, cleft nearly to base, lobes green, lanceolate to elliptic, 2–3 mm long. Corolla of 5(6) petals; petals distinct, imbricate, pale lavender, oblanceolate to oblong, 8–12 mm long. Staminal filament tube dark purple, connate into a narrowly cylindrical tube, becoming somewhat expanded toward apex, 4–10 mm long, 10–12–ribbed, apex with 2–4-lobed appendages; anthers 10(12), inserted on margin of or just inside staminal filament tube; in pistillate flowers anthers smaller, indehiscent, not producing pollen. Ovary superior, 4–8-celled; ovules 2 per cell; style with 4–8 stigmatic lobes, capitate; staminate flowers with pistillodes with narrower and with a more slender capitate style and small abortive ovules.

Fruit: Fruit drupaceous; yellow; subglobose to broadly ellipsoid; 1–2 cm in diameter; usually persisting on the plant; endocarp thick; bony; hollow at base and apex. Seeds oblong; laterally compressed; without an aril; seed coat leathery; usually 1 per cell in stone.

Ploidy: 2n = 28

Habitat: Dry; disturbed areas; especially gulches and pastures.

Elevation Range: 0–610 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Synonyms (65)

Azedara speciosa Raf. (1817)
Azedarach commelinii Medik. (1783)
Azedarach deleteria Medik. (1787)
Azedarach fraxinifolia Moench (1802)
Azedarach odoratum Noronha (1790)
Azedarach sempervirens (L.) Kuntze (1891)
Azedarach sempervirens f. incisodentata Kuntze (1891)
Azedarach sempervirens f. longifoliola Kuntze (1891)
Azedarach sempervirens f. subdentata Kuntze (1891)
Azedarach sempervirens var. australasica (A.Juss.) Kuntze (1891)
Azedarach sempervirens var. glabrior (C.DC.) Kuntze (1891)
Azedarach vulgaris M.Gómez (1894)
Melia aethiopica Welw. (1859)
Melia angustifolia Schumach. & Thonn. (1827)
Melia argentea Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. (1829)
Melia arguta DC. (1824)
Melia australasica A.Juss. (1830)
Melia australis Sweet (1830)
Melia azedarach f. albiflora Makino (1914)
Melia azedarach f. umbraculifera (G.W.Knox) Rehder (1949)
Melia azedarach subvar. albiflora (Makino) Makino (1914)
Melia azedarach subvar. intermedia Makino (1914)
Melia azedarach subvar. semperflorens (Makino) Makino (1914)
Melia azedarach subvar. toosendan (Siebold & Zucc.) Makino (1914)
Melia azedarach var. acuminatissima Miq. (1868)
Melia azedarach var. australasica (A.Juss.) DC. (1878)
Melia azedarach var. biglandulosa (Pierre) Pellegr. (1911)
Melia azedarach var. cochinchinensis (Pierre) Pellegr. (1911)
Melia azedarach var. floribunda (Carrière) É.Morren (1880)
Melia azedarach var. glabrior C.DC. (1878)
Melia azedarach var. glandulosa Pierre (1897)
Melia azedarach var. incisa Miq. (1868)
Melia azedarach var. intermedia (Makino) Makino (1928)
Melia azedarach var. japonica (G.Don) Makino (1914)
Melia azedarach var. javanica Koord. & Valeton (1896)
Melia azedarach var. sambucina (Blume) Miq. (1868)
Melia azedarach var. sempervirens L. (1753)
Melia azedarach var. squamulosa C.DC. (1878)
Melia azedarach var. subtripinnata Miq. (1867)
Melia azedarach var. toosendan (Siebold & Zucc.) Makino (1928)
Melia azedarach var. umbraculifera G.W.Knox (1885)
Melia azedarach var. umbraculiformis Berck. & L.H.Bailey (1900)
Melia bogoriensis Koord. & Valeton (1896)
Melia bombolo Welw. (1859)
Melia bukayun Royle (1835)
Melia candollei A.Juss. (1830)
Melia chinensis Siebold ex Miq. (1867)
Melia cochinchinensis M.Roem. (1846)
Melia commelini Medik. ex Steud. (1841)
Melia composita var. biglandulosa Pierre (1897)
Melia composita var. cochinchinensis Pierre (1897)
Melia flaccida Zipp. ex Span. (1841)
Melia floribunda Carrière (1872)
Melia florida Salisb. (1796)
Melia guineensis G.Don (1830)
Melia japonica G.Don (1831)
Melia japonica var. albicans C.DC. (1878)
Melia japonica var. semperflorens Makino (1904)
Melia javanica M.Roem. (1846)
Melia orientalis M.Roem. (1846)
Melia robusta Roxb. ex G.Don (1831)
Melia sambucina Blume (1825)
Melia sempervirens (L.) Sw. (1788)
Melia superba Roxb. (1832)
Melia toosendan Siebold & Zucc. (1845)

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Chemical in fruit and leaves have usage as an insecticide as it is able to inhibit an insects ability to molt

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Notes

  • All parts of the plant contain a toxin that damages the digestive system if consumed

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 384 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:918 (Ni, K, O, L, M, H); Hughes 1995:7 (Mo); Staples & Herbst 2005:398 (KEY), 399 (DESCR)

Poisonous Plants of Paradise (Scott and Thomas) p.45-47

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Melia azedarach Waimea Canyon State Pasrk; mile 11.3 on Highway 550 Waimea Canyon in remnant forest on steep, dry slope. Growing with Acacia and Lantana. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 2202 Kauai BISH 1987-05-21
2 Melia azedarach Honolulu Planted. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11007 Oahu BISH 1930-12-01
3 Melia azedarach Pukalani Planted at roadside, introduced. Preserved_Specimen Little Jr., E.L. 31100 Maui BISH 1976-08-24
4 Melia azedarach Waialua; cane road near Hukilau Loop Slope = 5 degrees; Soil = clay/loam. Preserved_Specimen Afualo, D. 44 Oahu BISH 1975-03-08
5 Melia azedarach North of Kaala Naturalized on drier firehills. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11207 Oahu BISH 1937-04-26
6 Melia azedarach Kalamaula Game Management Area Aleurites/Melia forest. Common. Preserved_Specimen Hughes, G.D. 43 Molokai BISH 1992-03-24
7 Melia azedarach Mokuleia; near site of Hatheway's ecological work High in dry forest/scrub. Preserved_Specimen Long, C.R. 3741 Oahu BISH 1966-02-03
8 Melia azedarach Koolau Mountains; Waipio; Kipapa Gulch On highway Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 189 Oahu BISH 1930-03-31
9 Melia azedarach Honolulu Planted. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11006 Oahu BISH 1931-04-16
10 Melia azedarach Mokuleia. Northern Waianae Mtns, Kealia Trail Open, disturbed lowland dry forest. Assoc veg: Schinus terebinthifolius, Psydrax odorata, Panicum sp.. Preserved_Specimen Ray, G. 91 Oahu BISH 1998-02-25
11 Melia azedarach Haena District: Limahuli Garden in lower Limahuli Valley cultivated (origin uncertain-tag missing) Preserved_Specimen Lorence, D.H. 7718 Kauai BISH 1995-11-06
12 Melia azedarach Above Kepapa Springs On north face of hill. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1977-07-18
13 Melia azedarach South Kona, above Honaunau Growing in pasture beside road. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 2069 Hawaii BISH 1987-08-22
14 Melia azedarach Tantalus Mt Planted at roadside. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11008 Oahu BISH 1923-03-30
15 Melia azedarach Waimanalo Pasture. Preserved_Specimen Bush, W. 3707 Oahu BISH 1929-05-26
16 Melia azedarach Mokuleia; near site of Hatheway's ecological work High in dry forest/scrub. Preserved_Specimen Long, C.R. 3741 Oahu BISH 1966-02-03
17 Melia azedarach East Maui, Makawao District, Ulupalakua, near In pasture. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 786 Maui BISH 1967-12-15
18 Melia azedarach Honolulu; Pauoa flats Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 9 Oahu BISH 1919-10-19
19 Melia azedarach Kawaihapai Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 9997 Oahu BISH 1927-11-03
20 Melia azedarach Lyon Arboretum; holding area Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 268 Oahu BISH 1967-07-14
21 Melia azedarach Koele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 363 Lanai BISH 1916-01-01
22 Melia azedarach Koele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 539 Lanai BISH 1916-03-28
23 Melia azedarach Honolulu; Palolo Valley, right fork Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 537 Oahu BISH 1921-02-27
24 Melia azedarach Mountains near Ka Loko Reservoir. (Kilauea) Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 543 Kauai BISH 1916-08-08
25 Melia azedarach Waikiki Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 2603 Oahu BISH
26 Melia azedarach Lyon Arboretum; holding area Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 268 Oahu BISH 1967-07-14
27 Melia azedarach Kalaupapa; Waihanau Preserved_Specimen Wysong, M.L. 447 Molokai BISH 2004-11-17
28 Melia azedarach S half of island Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Niihau BISH 1912-01-01
29 Melia azedarach University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. Leafy branch in herbarium Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. Oahu BISH 1962-03-03
30 Melia azedarach unknown Preserved_Specimen (Not on sheet) BISH
31 Melia azedarach Oahu Preserved_Specimen Brigham, W.T. Oahu BISH 1890-01-01
32 Melia azedarach Kipahulu Preserved_Specimen Livermore, K. Maui BISH 1933-08-08
33 Melia azedarach Maui Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Maui BISH 1933-08-01
34 Melia azedarach Pololu Valley, E. side, 200 m. inland Preserved_Specimen Terry, R. Hawaii BISH 1985-07-01
35 Melia azedarach Waianae Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. Oahu BISH 1924-12-13
36 Melia azedarach Honolulu; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. Oahu BISH 1962-03-03
37 Melia azedarach unknown Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 341 BISH 1864-01-01
38 Melia azedarach unknown Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 2601 BISH
39 Melia azedarach Oahu Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 279 Oahu BISH 1909-04-01
40 Melia azedarach unknown Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. BISH
41 Melia azedarach Ulupalakua Ranch Rd. about 1 mile west of Ulupalakua Ranch near HVB marker for Kahoolawe Preserved_Specimen Long, C.R. 4326 Maui BISH 1966-12-31
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