PERSIAN LILAC - Melia azedarach

                         Fam. Meliaceae

General

This tree is closely related to neem. It us a native of the Indian Himalayas, but today is widely distributed throughout the topics and subtopics. As an ornamental tree it is often used for shade in gardens and for avenues (64).

Dried leaves and twigs have been used for centuries to protect cloth, books and leather (13). The seeds possess insecticidal propreties as well.

Effective Range

Contact- and stomac poison.

Insecticidal, repellent, antifeedant, growth inhibiting, effective against ticks (52, 145).

Methods of Use

In trials water extracts of 1:10 and 1:20 caused 100 % deaths of the pupae of the army worm ( Spodopiera litura). In the larval stage 1:10 caused 68 % deaths and 1:20 a death rate of 44 %. In these trials water  proved to be just as effective a solvent as ethyl alcohol (145).

A repellant against grasahoppers can be prepared by steering 150 gm fresh or 50 gm dried leaves in a litre of cold water for 24 hours. Then it is sprayed onto the crops to be protected (28).