Description

Melia azedarach, commonly called the Persian lilac, chinaberry, or bead tree, is a medium to large deciduous tree belonging to the family Meliaceae. While its precise centre of origin is debated, it is considered native to the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and parts of China, from where it has been naturalized widely across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The small, globose, yellow drupes that remain on bare branches after leaf fall have been documented in Unani pharmacopoeia as Darakht-e-Bakain and in Ayurvedic references for external applications. Classical texts note its bark and fruit in preparations traditionally associated with parasitic and dermatological conditions. Commercial sourcing occurs across the plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.