Teak (Tectona grandis)

Jati or teak (Tectona grandis) is a plant species in the Lamiaceae, a large tree producing high-quality and luxurious wood, straight trunk, up to 40 m high, large leaves, slow growth with low germination making natural propagation difficult and insufficient to meet demand market.

T. grandis grows in deciduous forests that lose their leaves in the dry season, stems are cylindrical, straight, up to 40 m high, 2.4 m in diameter, 18-20 m clear bole and the bark is yellowish brown.

The leaves are ovate, opposite, very short stalks, fine hairs and glandular hairs on the underside. The leaves on the tree shoots are 60-70 cm wide, 80-100 cm long and reddish green in color. The leaves on an old tree are 15 cm wide and 20 cm long.

Compound inflorescences in large panicles, 40x40 cm, containing hundreds of flowers arranged like umbrellas, located at the tip of the twig at the top of the tree. Flowers have 6-7 corolla, whitish in color and 8 mm wide.

The fruit is round, slightly flattened, 2.5 cm, coarse hair with a thick core, 2-4 seeds but generally only one grows. The fruit is covered by enlarged flower petals that inflate like small balloons.

Teak can grow in areas with rainfall 1500-2000 mm / year, temperature 27-36C, pH 6-8, contains lots of calcium and phosphorus, is not stagnant water and lots of sunshine throughout the year, the ideal elevation is 0-700 meters.

Teak is a pioneer species that is fire-resistant and damage to the teak seed shell makes it easier for shoots to come out when the rainy season arrives. Wood has strength class II, durability class I-II and is resistant to termite attacks. The wood of the patio has a light brown to reddish brown color. The sapwood is white and yellowish gray.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Tectona
Species: Tectona grandis

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