ULLOO MAHARUKH, Maha Neem
MAHARUKH Aillanthus excelsa, Maha Neem,Ulloo
MAHARUKH Aillanthus excelsa, Ulloo. Tree of Heaven
MAHARUKH Aillanthus excelsa, Ulloo
Maharukh, Pirneem, Mahaneem, Coromandal, Ailanto
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A large deciduous tree with a neat dome shaped crown. The main branches typically emerge at right angles to the massive trunk before sweeping upwards. Its unevenly serrated leaves are like a giant version of the Neem's. Common in Delhi but not native. It is naturalized on the ridge, self sown in wastelands and only occasionally cultivated.
Maharukh does not tolerate water logging. It has a talent for springing up unaided in wasteland even in cities. It is somewhat brittle tree needing to be sheltered from high winds. Municipal authorities love the tree because all it seems to need is plenty of sunshine.
Uses - its leaves and bitter bark have reputation in folk medicine as a tonic and cure for fever, bronchitis and dyspepsia. It is good fodder tree though sheep and goats need to first welcome their distaste of the strong nutty smell of its leaves. A useful shade and shelterbelt tree. The wood is soft and light easy to saw and work but is not attractive or durable in the open. It is used mainly for packing cases, toys, fishing floats and for carving Rajasthani marionettes.
Season :
Leaves : it start falling in mid April, new leaves in Late may or early June. The canopy fills out only in the rains. Leaves feather compound strikingly similar to neem leaves but on much bigger scale (hence Mahaneem).They can grow to a meter or more in length. Leaflets 8-14 in pairs sometimes with a solitary leaflet at the apex., all coarsely toothed and softly downy. The leaflets are nearly but not quite opposite each other and have asymmetrical bases.. Crushed leave smell of marmite or peanuts
Flower Buds : form early in January but do not open till March.. Flowering is over before the end of March. Flowers small yellow in large drooping clusters. Male and female flowers are separate usually on different trees- though sometimes male, female and bisexual flowers can all be together on the same tree. Flowers of all kinds have5 narrow spreading petals. The female flower have green wormy styles. Male flowers have saffron yellow anthers.
Fruit : form quickly (on trees with female flowers) dropping by July. Frit thin papery, single seeded pod hanging in large bunches. Pale green at first turning yellow and eventually brown. Purely male trees of course do not fruit.
Bark : grey corky thick with intense vertical fissures
Where to see : Copernicus Marg is predominantly a Maharukh avenue. Most public parks have it.
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