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Chinaberry
Melia azedarach
センダン
A deciduous tall tree growing near coasts and in urban areas of warm western Japan. It produces numerous pale purple flowers in early summer, and yellow drupes persist on the branches into autumn. The fruits are toxic to mammals but are eaten by birds.
Identification Points
- ✓Bi- to tripinnately compound leaves with serrated leaflets
- ✓Numerous pale purple flowers in panicles
- ✓Conspicuous yellow drupes persisting on branches through winter
Habitat
Coastal forests, urban areas, and parks
Season
May–June (flowers); October–February (fruit)
3D Specimen Model
Kyushu University, Shikano Lab (CC0)
View on Sketchfab→Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf margin
Serrate
Venation
Pinnate
Petal count
5 petals
Stipules
Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Ovary position
Superior
Aromatic
Aromatic
Latex
Present
Stamen count
1-2
Phylogenetic Positionセンダン科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Sapindales > Meliaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (ca. 80 million years ago)
Evolution Notes
Meliaceae includes tropical timber species like mahogany and is characterized by the evolution of terpenoid-based insecticidal compounds.
View on evolution timeline →Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification