china tree n evergreen of tropical America having pulpy fruit containing saponin which was used as soap by Native Americans n tree of northern India and China having purple blossoms and small inedible yellow fruits; naturalized in the southern United States as a shade tree Synonym(s) China tree false dogwood jaboncillo chinaberry Sapindus saponaria chinaberry tree Persian lilac pride-of-India azederach azedarach Melia azederach Melia azedarach