About Teak (Tectona grandis L.)

Description:

List of Descriptive Links:

·           Description in Spanish

·           Fact sheet for India (very informative)

·           Photographs

·           Silviculture

·           Teak’s place in the plant world

·           United States Department of Agriculture Fact Sheet

Tectona grandis, a member of the Verbenacae family, has different common names around the world:

          Burma-Kyun

             English-Teak

             French-Teck

             Java-Japi           

             Pohnpeian-Tuhkehn wai

             Spanish-Teca

Tectona grandis is native to Southern Asia; India, Myanmar, Thailand and Indochina ( Source). There are nearly 3-million hectares of Tectona grandis worldwide. Height growth can reach 150 feet. Diameters reach 3-5 ft. with fluting and buttressing common in older trees. Individuals are harvestable for timber after forty years in the wild ( Montessori ).

Tectona grandis prefers sites with a high moisture, high site index, small or no slopes and high available calcium and magnesium (Montero et al.) . Regeneration of Tectona grandis L. occurs from stump sprouts, artificial propagation, seeding or planting.

Tectona grandis is a highly desirable timber species. Common uses include structural timbers, boats/ships and furniture. Veneer products can be made as thin as .7mm ( Hashim Md. Noor). Specific gravity is between 0.55 and 0.77.  Other physical properties can be found at the United States Department of Agriculture Fact Sheet and Caye Hardwoods.

Related Link

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS  - a related web site with lots of info on forestry and agriculture in Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish

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