without any ill effects. These include the sunbirds, Asian koel, red-whiskered bulbul, white-browed bulbul, red-vented bulbul, brahminy myna, common myna and common grey hornbill. In South India and in Sri Lanka swallowing the seeds of Thevetia peruviana (Kaneru කණේරු (Sinhala), Manjal arali (Tamil)) is one of the preferred methods for suicides in villages where they are grown in abundance. Extracts from C. thevetia are reported to possess antispermatogenic activity in rats. Uses Cultivation Cascabela thevetia is cultivated as an ornamental plant, and planted as large flowering shrub or small ornamental tree standards in gardens and parks in temperate climates. In frost prone areas it is container plant, in the winter season brought inside a greenhouse or as a house plant. It tolerates most soils and is drought tolerant. Biological pest control The plant's toxins have tested in experiments for uses in biological pest control. T. peruviana seed oil was used to make a 'paint' with antifungal, antibacterial and anti-termite properties. Gallery References External links USDA Plants - Thevetia peruviana Inchem.org: Thevetia peruviana Kemper Center for Home Gardening.org - Thevetia peruviana horticultural info and photos Thevetia Flora of Mexico Flora of South America Plant toxin insecticides Garden plants of North America Garden plants of Central America Drought-tolerant plants Poisonous plants