58 Chinaberry Tree Facts: Roots, Uses, Fruits And Much More

The chinaberry tree is a species that is commonly found all across India and Southeast Asia.

Known by different names, the species thrive in the hot and temperate climate of this region. Some of its other names are bead-tree, the pride of India, the syringa berry tree, and the Persian lilac!

However, despite the such prevalence, the fruit and the berry of the chinaberry contain toxins and can be fatal if ingested.

Intrigued? Scroll down to learn more about the chinaberry!

Facts About Chinaberry Trees

There are plenty of things to know about the chinaberry tree. These trees can live for 40-150 years in the wild and is a great symbol of perseverance and inner strength. Read on to learn some more facts about them!

• The chinaberry is quite a common occurrence in the regions of India, Southeast Asia, Pakistan, and even in some parts of Australia.
• This tree was actually introduced to North America, especially the United States of America, quite a while back.
• While some reports suggest that this deciduous tree was brought to the states in the 17th century, some state that they were actually introduced as ornamental tree species either in the 18th century or the mid-1800s.
• Due to the hot climate of the southern states of the US, chinaberry has successfully adapted itself to the Northern American continent.
• Unfortunately, gone are the days of considering chinaberry as ornamental tree species. This tree species is now thought of as an invasive tree whose dense thickets can be a hindrance to the growth of native trees.
• Did you know that the chinaberry tree belonged to the family of mahogany or Meliaceae? Moreover, they are part of the order Sapindales.
• The scientific name for the chinaberry tree is Melia azederach. From this name, it is fairly obvious that they belong to the Melia genus, which is a genus of flowering trees in the Mahagony family.
• Despite the accepted binomial name of Melia azedarach, the chinaberry has a host of other synonyms in regard to scientific nomenclature.
• Some of these other scientific names include Azedarach fraxinifolia, Melia bukayun, Azedarach odoratum, Melia composita, Azedarach sempervirens, and Melia sempervirens.
• The name of the genus to which the chinaberry trees belong has a history that can be traced back to ancient Greece.
• The Greek term 'μελία' (melía) was used to describe the manna ash or South European flowering ash plant by Theophrastus, who was the successor of Aristotle within the Peripatetic school of thought.
• The manna ash or the Fraxinus ornus plant has leaves that are very similar to the chinaberry.
• The latter part of the specific name of the chinaberry is derived from the French term 'azédarac'. Now, this term has its roots in the Persian word 'āzād dirakht', which can be roughly translated to mean a noble tree or independent tree.
• Incidentally, many confuse the scientific nomenclature of chinaberry with another genus of the Mahagony family. The Azadirachta genus trees, which include the famous neem tree and plant, are different from Melia azedarach.
• Usually, the chinaberry trees grow in moist and well-drained areas. They can be easily found in the plains with rivers and the edges of the forest, apart from growing in places where their seeds have been dispersed.
• A mature and well-developed chinaberry tree can grow quite tall, as is commonplace for the mahogany tree family. The average height of these trees from tropical areas is around 20-40 ft (6-12 m).
• There have been instances where the chinaberry tree has been observed to attain a height of over 150 ft (46 m).
• The top of the chinaberry tree has a canopy or a crown that can either be rounded or in an umbrella shape. Now, this canopy may have a diameter within the range of 20 ft (6 m)
• The bark and the trunk of the chinaberry trees are not too wide, with a diameter of around 2 ft (0.6 m).
• If you closely observe the chinaberry, you will notice the different smaller trunks that make up the complete tree.
• You may also find it interesting that the stem color and the bark color differ in chinaberry trees.
• Stems are usually either olive green or a mixture of brownish-red and purple. However, the barks either have reddish-brown coloration or a deeper shade of brown, which is mixed with some light-brown spots.
• Speaking of the bark, the light brown spots on the bark of a matured specimen are not present on a young specimen. The bark on the young trees has reddish spots while also missing the ridges present in the bark of the older trees.
• On the other hand, the chinaberry leaves are only about 20 in (50 cm) in length.
• The leaves of this native plant from Southeast Asia have a musky odor when crushed.
• In terms of their coloration, the leaves are lighter green on the lower surface while being a darker shade of green on the upper surface.
• The flowers of the chinaberry trees bloom during the month of spring.
• These flowers are defined as perfect flowers containing both male and female reproductive organs.
• On the flip side, despite having beautiful flowers with lilac or purple petals, the chinaberry does not attract agents of pollination. Thus, as a result, the flowers carry out self-pollination.
• Another interesting fact about the chinaberry flowers is that they have a distinct magnolia-like fragrance.

Chinaberry Tree's Uses

There are different uses for the chinaberry tree that is native to the lands of India, China, Pakistan, and other parts of southeastern Asia. Why not take a look at them?

• In its native countries, the chinaberry tree was used as a form of shade. This was mainly due to the large canopy of the tree. Even in places where they have been introduced apart from their native regions, like the US, people would mainly plant this tree for this very reason.
• Of course, being part of the mahogany family, the chinaberry tree has been used for its timber.
• The timber of the tree is medium-density, and high-quality, and produces a color that is either dark reddish or light brownish.
• Due to the appearance of its timber, they are often confused with the more widely-used Burmese teak, which is also native to the region of southeastern Asia. These two tree species are not related to each other.
• Both fortunately and unfortunately, the timber of this widespread tree is not used too often, putting pressure on species of the endangered mahogany. This is despite the fact that chinaberry timber is highly resistant to pests while being odorless.
• In the older days, the berries of the chinaberry tree had some uses. One of them was for washing dirty clothes. This was done by actually mixing and mashing the berries of this tree with water.
• Also, at one point in time, the seeds of the chinaberry were used quite a lot in the creation of small beads and rosaries. However, this usage has largely become obsolete.
• Apart from the seeds, the fruits of the chinaberry can also be of use in making necklaces and bracelets only when dried.
• There are florists who sell the entire cut branches of chinaberry trees as decorative items to be hung on the walls.
• The leaves of this tree are utilized as a natural insect repellant when kept along with stored food.

Chinaberry Tree's Fruit

The fruits and the berries of the chinaberry tree have been the subject of discussion for a long, long time. Let us find out why!

• The chinaberry fruit follows quickly after the growth of the flowers. They have formed clustered berries, with the individual berries containing around 4-6 seeds.
• Even during the winter, when the leaves fall from the tree, the berries remain.
• The berries then turn into fruits. The fruit of the chinaberry is fleshy on the outside, with a hard endocarp covering the single seed.
• In general, it is seen that the fruit is small and in the shape of marble, as most berries are.
• As the fruit grows, it usually has yellowish coloration after initially starting out as green.
• In spite of hanging on to the trees throughout the winter months, the fruit gradually becomes wrinkled and de-colored into being pale and white.
• However, do not be fooled by the vibrant yellowish appearance of these fruits. The seeds and the fruits contain neurotoxins that can be fatal to humans when ingested in numbers.
• It is estimated that eating six to eight such berries can cause death to humans, farm animals, and other domesticated animals like cats.
• Common symptoms of chinaberry fruit poisoning include diarrhea, stomach pain, breathing issues, loss of body coordination, and even cardiac arrest.
• There are certain animals that eat the fleshy exterior of the fruit and digest the entire endocarp, which is then excreted as a whole. Now, let's say the endocarp somehow gets crushed during digestion, then the animal will be exposed to the toxins.
• Yet, some birds regularly feed on the fruits of this tree. Species of birds like hummingbirds feed on the fruit and even pollinate the flower sometimes.
• Still, when the birds feed on the chinaberry fruit, they experience the effects of the neurotoxins in them. 
• Fascinatingly, these birds actually facilitate the spread of chinaberry as they disperse the seeds through their feces.

Chinaberry Tree's Roots

Even though the roots of the chinaberry tree are not remarkable in their features, they add to some of the problems that are associated with this species.

• The chinaberry tree is known to have a shallow and widespread root system from which several branches sprout out.
• Such a root system is the cause of a lot of issues with regard to underground drainage and sanitary pipes.
• Even though the trees have been used for the purpose of shade, the invasive tree and its roots can cause a lot of damage to the ecosystem. They make it almost impossible for other native tree species to grow in the same ecosystem.
• Due to the fact that the tree quickly grows from the roots, it is very difficult to prune them through mechanical means. This remains one of the chinaberry's biggest problems.
• The tree and the roots also cannot be controlled through natural means like the introduction of pests because the tree is a pest-repellant. Even burning the tree doesn't bear any results,
• However, the usage of herbicides can help restrict the further growth of this deciduous tree!