Bankok teak
Tectona grandis
Synonyms: Tectona grandis f. pilosula, Tectona grandis f. canescens, Jatus grandis, Tectona grandis f. abludens, Tectona theca, Tectona grandis f. punctata, Tectona grandis f. tomentella, Theka grandis
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Tectona grandis, commonly known as teak, is a large deciduous tree in the family Lamiaceae native to the monsoon forests of South and Southeast Asia, including India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and parts of Indonesia, and widely planted throughout the tropics for its prized timber. Mature trees commonly reach 30 to 40 metres tall with a tall straight bole that can exceed 1.5 metres in diameter, supported in old specimens by buttressed roots, and bear a dense rounded crown. The bark is pale grey-brown, shallowly fissured, and exfoliates in long thin strips. Leaves are opposite, very large, broadly elliptic to obovate, 30 to 60 centimetres long and 20 to 30 centimetres wide, papery, scabrous above and densely felted-tomentose beneath, with entire margins, and turn yellowish-brown before falling at the start of the dry season. The inflorescence is a large terminal panicle 30 to 60 centimetres tall bearing numerous small white tubular bilabiate flowers about 6 millimetres across. The fruit is a four-chambered drupe enclosed in an inflated, papery, persistent calyx 1 to 2 centimetres across.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.