Melia azedarach L.
Frost tender, fast-growing, many-branched, spreading, deciduous tree with fissured grey bark, pinnate leaves, to 60cm long, with many, toothed leaflets, and a profusion of star-shaped, fragrant, lilac flowers, to 2cm across, in arching panicles from spring to summer, followed by yellow fruit. To 15m. [RHSE, Hilliers’].
Horticultural & Botanical History
‘Few plants, as it appears, have a wider range, being found in North and South-America, and in the East and West-Indies, as well as Syria. Is common , by cultivation, in all the southern parts of Europe, where the nuts are threaded for beads, to assist the devotion of good catholics, for which purpose they are particularly suited, having a natural perforation through the centre; hence the tree has been called arbor sancta and by the Spaniards arbol parayso.’ [BM t.1066/1807]. Cultivated in England since 1656. [JD]. The fruit is ‘the size of a cherry, pale yellow when ripe. The pulp surrounding the nucleus is poisonous, and when mixed with grease is said to kill dogs.’ [Don].
History at Camden Park
Listed in all published catalogues [T.671/1843]. It is possible that the plants grown by Macarthur were Melia azedarach L. var. australasica (Juss.) DC. Melia azedarach is quite common in the Camden area and frequently planted. There are a number of trees in the gardens which self-seed readily, to the point of being a weed. Whether these are the variety australasica or from introduced stock is impossible to say at present.
Notes
Published Mar 20, 2009 - 05:22 PM | Last updated Mar 24, 2010 - 02:14 PM
Melia azedarach L. | BM t.1066/1807 | BHL
| Family | Meliaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Widespread including Australia |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | Indian lilac, Bead tree, Persian lilac, Pride of India, White cedar |
| Name in the Camden Park Record | Melia azedarach - Bead tree |
| Confidence level | high |