Teak
Tectona grandis L.f.
Location
Boys Hostel
Family
Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae)
Common names
Teak
Native range
South and Southeast Asia, including India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos
Habitat
Occurs naturally in tropical dry deciduous forests and is widely cultivated in plantations across tropical regions.
Flowering
June–August (varies by region)
Fruiting
November–January
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC); extensively cultivated and scientifically managed in plantations
About this plant
Leaves are large, opposite, ovate, and rough to the touch, with a hairy surface when young. Flowers are small, white, and borne in large panicles. The fruits are small, round drupes with a woody shell. The wood is golden-brown in colour, oily to the touch, highly durable, and resistant to termites and weathering.
Uses
Highly valued for its timber, considered one of the most valuable hardwoods in the world and extensively used in shipbuilding, furniture making, flooring, carvings, and outdoor construction. The tree is occasionally planted as an ornamental or avenue tree. Leaves are sometimes used traditionally for wrapping and in folk medicine.
Growing conditions
Thrives in warm tropical climates and grows best in well-drained soils. It prefers full sunlight and tolerates seasonal dry periods. Commonly propagated and managed in forest plantations
Habit
A large deciduous tree typically reaching heights of 25–35 meters, and occasionally up to 40 meters, with a straight bole and a broad, spreading crown.