Teak morphology and economic importance

Teak- morphology and economic importance

1. TEAK
Botanical name: Tectonagrandis
Family: Verbenaceae
Part used: Wood (Secondary xylem)
By: Dr. Anuprabha
Department of Botany
Goswami Ganesh Dutta SanatanDharma College,
Chandigarh

2. Teak is a large,deciduoustree up to 40m (131ft) tall with gray
to grayish brown branches.

3. Petiolesthat are 2–4cm (0.8–1.6in) long.

4. Leaf marginsare entire.Fragrantwhite flowers are borne on 25–40cm
(10–16in) long by 30cm (12in) wide

5. FlowersappearfromJunetoSeptember
Theflowerscomeinlargenumbersinclustersattheendofbranches.
Theyarewhiteandrathersmall-about6mmacross.
Theflowersareprimarilyentomophilous(insect-pollinated),butcan
occasionallybeanemophilous(wind-pollinated).

6. Tectonagrandissets fruit from September to December; fruits are
globoseand 1.2-1.8cm in diameter.
Fruit is fleshy and bears 1-4 seeds which are enclosed in a stony
covering.
Teak sheds leaves from November to January.

7. ECONOMIC
IMPORTANCE
Teakisrecognizedasthebest
timberforthemanufactureof
door,windowframesand
shutters,wagonandcarriage,
furniture,cabinets,ships,
agricultural implements,
decorativeflooringandwall
panellingbecauseofits
moderateweight,appropriate
strength,dimensionalstability
anddurability,easyworkability
andfinishingqualitiesandmost
appealinggrain,texture,colour
andfigure.

8. ➢Teakisalsousedinavarietyofways
apartfromitsuseastimber.Various
partsofthetree,includingthewood
arecreditedwithmedicinal
properties.
➢Kernelsyieldfattyoil(about2per
cent).
➢Flowersareconsidereduseful
againstanumberofdiseasessuchas
biliousness,bronchitisandurinary
discharges.
➢Bothflowersandseedsare
considereddiuretic.

9. ➢Leavesareusedinindigenousmedicineandtheirextract
indicatescompleteinhibitionofMycobacterium
tuberculosis.
➢Theleavesalsocontainyellowandreddyes,whichhave
beenrecommendedfordyeingofsilk,woolandcotton.
➢Theleavesareoccasionallyusedasplatesfordining
purposes,formakingcheapumbrellasandforthatching
temporaryhutsinsomeplaces.
➢Thebarkisregardedasanastringentandconsidereduseful
inbronchitis.Variousvaluablecompoundshavebeenisolated
andidentifiedfromthewood,bark,rootandleavesofthe
tree.
➢Activatedcharcoalcanbepreparedfromitssawdust.