“BAKAINO” is a tree that can be seen everywhere from terai to hill in Nepal. Because it is a tropical tree, it is most commonly seen in the Terai region. Melia azedarach is the scientific name for the “BAKAINO TREE.” Linnaeus first described Melia azedarach in 1753, and it belongs to the Meliaceae family. It is native to Australia, India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, and other regions of Asia and is known as chinaberry. Barbados lilac, China tree, Chinaberry tree, Persian lilac, pride of India, umbrella tree, and white cedar are all common English names for M. azedarach. It’s a deciduous tree with broadleaf, perennial, seed, and vegetative propagation options. tree with a maximum height of 15 meters (approximately 50 feet). M. azedarach is a very adaptable species that can thrive in a wide range of climatic and soil conditions, both natural and farmed, and is most commonly found in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates with dry seasons. Chinaberry can be found in prairies and fields near rivers and streams, as well as around the edges of woodlands. It prefers soil that is warm, fertile, and well-drained, as well as places that receive plenty of sunlight.

Melia azedarach is frequently confused with Azadirachta indica, a neem tree with which Bakaino shares a close relationship. The absence of stellate leaf hairs, pinnate leaves (rather than bipinnate as in M. azedarach), 3 lobes (rather than 5 lobes), and 1- to 2-seed drupes distinguish Azadirachta indica from M. azedarach (not up to 5-seeded).

The Chinaberry tree is thought to be a representation of the Garden of Eden’s Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In some cultures, it is also seen to represent hope and strength.

“BAKAINO” trees have many religious, economic, biological, environmental, medicinal, industrial, and agricultural importance. And these are given below;

Uses, Importance, and significance of Chinaberry :

  • Used as an ornamental and decorative plant in the park, garden because it is beautiful morphologically.
  • Used as an avenue plant i.e. roadside plant which helps to reduce air, sound pollution, and makes the natural beauty of the road.
  • Used in agriculture as windbreak trees and pest repellent trees which helps to protect agricultural crops from wind damages and pest infestation.
  • Used as a fodder plant for the animals especially for a goat which is very popular and nutritious for the animal.
  • Used as shade and shelter plant.because it has expansive foliage which makes excellent shade. and also used as fuelwood in rural areas of the country.
  • Used as timber.it has deep reddish color timber so it is very used in furniture and veneer. The wood (often referred to as “white cedar”), which resembles mahogany, is used to make agricultural implements, furniture, plywood, boxes, poles, and tool handles; it is also utilized in cabinetry and construction due to its termite resistance.
  • used as beads to make necklaces or rosaries earrings, bracelets, key-rings, or any other product that is made of beads.
  • Used to make soap and hair oil. The seeds contain an oil high in linoleic acid (65-82%) and oleic acid. They also yield a greenish-yellow bitter oil and the trunk a gum but these have been little utilized, though the first is suitable for soap and hair oil.
  • Used as an insecticide and natural pesticide. It is a biological pesticide that helps to reduce pollution and it can be made or extracted from fruit, leaf, bark, wood, gum, etc.
  • It’s used as a medicine. It has anticancer and antiviral effects in its extracts. The tree’s bark can be used to treat gastrointestinal parasites. Anthelmintic, antilithic, diuretic, and emmenagogue are all properties of leaf juice. A decoction is stomachic and astringent. Diarrhea is treated using a decoction. Externally, the leaves are used to cure skin disorders like scabies and itch. To treat tooth problems and strengthen the gums, a decoction is gargled. It works well on ringworm and other parasitic skin infections. Meliacin, a glycopeptide extracted from the leaves and roots of the plant, inhibits the reproduction of different DNA and RNA viruses in vitro like poliovirus.
  • Used as a mosquito repellent tree. By the smell, chemical composition of gum, pollen, it repels mosquitoes and other insects but does not mean that it kills them.
  • Used in agroforestry to plantations in the empty area.

Main Hazards:

Warm-blooded animals are highly poisoned by the fruit of Chinaberry. Fruits that ripen are more deadly than those that are still green. Children’s nausea, spasms, and diseases have been linked to as little as six fruits of chinaberry. Toxins produced by all parts of the plant can irritate the stomach and cause liver and kidney damage in animals. Asthma sufferers may be irritated by the flowers, and wood dust might lead to dermatitis. Azedarach is a fast-growing plant that can establish dense monospecific stands that prevent native plants from regenerating.

Interesting fact: Chinaberry trees produce a lot of fruit, which birds enjoy eating. The poisons in the berries don’t kill birds, but they do make them drunk for a while, which makes it difficult for them to fly, thus inebriated birds are frequently seen near Chinaberry bushes.

Suggestion: If you’re considering buying a Chinaberry for gardening, ornamental purposes, medicinal purposes, fodder purposes, or economic purposes, make sure you receive a disease-free and pest-free certified sample from the nursery.