This is an indigenous drought tolerant and multipurpose tree species endemic to the Arid and semi-arid areas of eastern Africa.
Its common names are melia , tree of knowledge( English) Mukau (Kamba,Tharaka and Mbeere) Tile (Boran) Boba, Mbamba (Somalia, Oromo) Maramarui (Samburu), and Kirumbutu (Taita).