THE TEAK TREE
Family – Lamiaceae
Scientific name – Tectona grandis.
COMMON NAMES –
1) In Hindi it is called Sagun.
2) Tectona and teak are both derived from the
Malayalam name tekku through the Portuguese teca.
GENERAL INFORMATION –
1) A large deciduous tree with light grey bark
which peels off in thin vertical strips.
2) The branchlets of the tree are quadrangular.
3) Leaves are mostly 12-24 inches long, 6-12
inches wide, very rough on the upper surface, and with stellate hairs on the
lowers surface.
4) Flowers 0.25 inch diameter, white, in huge
open rather stiff bunches.
5) Fruit about 0.5 inch diameter, roughly
globular but somewhat pointed pointed at the apex, consisting of a large bony
stone containing 1-4 seeds in thick felt covering, whole enclosed in the gently
enlarged bladder-like calyx.
6) Leaves fall from November to March and the
fresh leaves appear from April to June, in both cases the time depends on the
dryness of the locality or season.
7) Flowers June to September and the fruits
ripen from November to January but do not fall readily.
8) The young leaves when crushed in the hand
stain the skin blood-red.
USES OF THE TEAK TREE –
1) For the general uses teak is the finest
timber in the world.
2) This is due to its remarkable durability
and working properties and to its being available in large quantities.
3) It is not very hard nor very and once seasoned
not liable to warp or shrink.
4) Finally it contains no substances liable to
corrode, iron and consequently is the main timber used for ships, railway
carriages and similar proposes where timber and iron are in the contact.
5) Compared with its value as a timber its
other uses are unimportant.
6) A tar can be extracted from the wood and is
used medically.
7) The leaves are used as one of the foods of
the tasur silk worm, for umbrellas and for wrapping parcels.
HABITAT OF THE TEAK TREE –
It is find at –
1) Peninsular India.
2) Burma.
3) Siam.
4) Java.
