Plus

Plus

A hardy tree with feathery flowers
The Teak is a large tree growing upto even 50m in optimal conditions. It has a straight trunk with little branching at the lower end. The bark is grey and peels off. The leaves of this tree are large and broadly elliptic. The veins can be clearly seen on the shiny green surface. The undersides of the leaves are silvery. The tree is deciduous and when the leaves fall a noisy carpet is created underfoot.

The Teak has minute white flowers which appear in large inflorescences at the end of branches. These flowers are scented.

The fruits are globular and light green and have been described by Cowen as “Chinese lanterns” because of their shape (Flowering Trees and Shrubs in India). The tree can easily be recognised by the flowers which have a feathery appearance and also by its large leaves.

For most of the year the tree is not particularly attractive since the leaves are eaten by insects and during the dry months the tree sheds all its leaves.
Between June and September, however, Teak trees are an eye catching sight because of the fresh leaves and the lacy flowers.

The tree produces hard and durable wood which resists attack by white ants. It has been cultivated for its timber from 1844 on the Malabar coast of India. The liquid black tar distilled from the wood in small quantities is used in South India and Burma for medicinal purposes similar to the use of coal-tar. The tar is also used to prevent maggots breeding in sores on cattle. Oil from the seeds is also used as a medicine. The plaster from the powdered wood is used to treat bilious headaches and inflammatory swellings. The bark is an astringent. Oil from the tree is used as hair tonic and to combat itchy skin.

The Teak tree is known as Thekka in Sinhalese and Thekku in Tamil. The scientific name (Tectona grandis) is derived from the Portuguese name for the tree Teca and the Latin word for large, grandis. It is native to India, Burma and surrounding countries from where it was introduced to Sri Lanka. It is usually found in plantations and home gardens. It grows well in the dry and intermediate forests and can be found on riversides. In Colombo look out for it along Bauddhaloka Mw in front of the BMICH.

Compiled by: Ruk Rakaganno - 2554438; email: rukraks@sltnet.lk

Back to Plus