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Teak (Tectona grandis)
Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

On the map in 3 countries tree

Teak

Tectona grandis

Family: Lamiaceae

On our map this plant appears in 3 countries and ranks highest in: Myanmar, India, Indonesia.

Teak, the source of teak wood, is a tall tree (up to 40 m) with a straight trunk and huge, rough leaves that fall in the dry season. It grows in mixed monsoon forests on well-drained soils of hills and valleys. Thanks to its natural oils, teak wood is exceptionally durable and resistant to damp, fungi and termites, so for centuries it has been used in boatbuilding, construction and furniture-making. Producing mature timber takes several decades, and elephants are still used to haul logs in mountain forests.

Description from: Myanmar.

More: Wikipedia (en) Wikipedia (pl) Plants of the World Online (Kew)

Significance in each country

  1. Myanmar no. 2 of 10 native

    Burmese teak is considered the finest in the world and for more than a hundred years was the country’s main export. Teak was used to build, among others, the Shwenandaw Monastery in Mandalay and the 1.2-km U Bein Bridge in Amarapura.

  2. India no. 9 of 15 native

    Teak from the Malabar Coast was a strategic resource – Royal Navy warships were built from it at the Bombay dockyard, including HMS Trincomalee, which survives to this day.

  3. Indonesia no. 12 of 15 introduced or naturalised

    Teak was most likely brought to Java from mainland Asia centuries ago, and today teak forests managed by the state-owned company Perhutani are a characteristic feature of the landscape of central and eastern Java.