MELIACEAE

The Meliaceae or mahogany family comprises some 600+ species of tropical trees and shrubs. They have alternate or pinnate leaves, loose branching flowers and fruits in the form of berries or drupes. Some genera are called mahogany, like the African Khaya, neotropican Swietenia and Asian Toona spp. Mahogany refers to the hard durable wood which are exploited as timber. Another prominent species, the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is valued for its medicinal and insecticidal properties. A limonoid triterpene called azadirachtin is purified from neem seeds. It is used by farmers across the world as an organic insecticide.

Only a few Meliaceae species are poisonous, such as the Persian lilac (Melia azedarach). It is a medium sized tree with toothed bipinnate leaves and star shaped, lilac coloured flowers borne in abundant clusters. The fruits are small green drupes containing 4-5 seeds, which turn yellowish-brown when ripe. All parts of Melia azadarachcontain highly poisonous limonoids (tetratriterpeneoid) called meliatoxins, which are particularly concentrated in the seed. A fatal dose can be as little as five to six seeds. Meliatoxins taste intensely bitter, human poisoning is invariably due to ingestion of the plant as herbal remedy. It is sometimes confused with the similar looking neem. Birds are naturally resistant to meliatoxins, they consume and spread  Persian lilac seeds. Persian lilac is also valued for its timber, which is impervious to termites. Fruits trees planted near the Persian lilac are said to be relatively free of pests.

Persian Lilac (Melia azedarach), foliage and flower.

Melia azedarach, fruits.