Teak
Tectona grandis

Family: Verbenaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 25-50 m tall. The trunk is 1 m across. It can have slight buttresses. It is open with many branches. It loses some leaves during the year. The leaves are oval and have a rough surface. They can be 60 cm long. The flowers are in large panicles. They are white or pink. The fruit is round and can have 4 seeds. These are oval and white.

It is also used in medicine. It is an important timber tree.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in tropical deciduous forests. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Cambodia, Caribbean, Central America, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Guam, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marianas, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Niue, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Philippines, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor

How it is used for food

The leaves are added to the water in which unripe jackfruit are boiled to give them a red flavour. The leaves are used for fermenting soybean. They are also used in curries. They are also used to wrap food. The boiled teakwood shavings are used to colour Easter eggs. Arack is matured in teak wood to give a distinctive flavour.

Edible parts

Leaves - colouring, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can also be grown by budding and grafting.

Its other names

Local names

Ai-teca, Djati, Haivakaru, Klor, Kpagh, Kyun, Mai-sak, Mai-san-lan, May sac, Pahi, Pohon jati, Tekka, Tlawr

Synonyms

Jatus grandis (L.f.) Kuntze; Theka grandis (L.f.) Lam.; and others