Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

229. Teca, teak
VERBENA FAMILY (VERBENACEAE)
Teak, which has been introduced sparingly in
plantations for its valuable timber and-for or-
nament and shade, is easily identified by I& huge
elliptic opposite leaves 12-15 inches long and 9-10
inches broad or larger by its stout 4-angled twigs
and few coarse branches, and by the bronzesol-
ored young leaves which yield a reddish juice
when crushed. The numerous small whitish flow-
ers % inch long and 3/E inch across the 6 spreading
corolla lobes are borne in very large flower clus-
ters. An enlarged thin eg -shaped calyx about 1
inch across encloses the guit, which is a light
brown ball about l/z inch in diameter.
In its native home this is a large tree to 150 feet
tall, often mith buttressed or fluted trunk. Trees
of plantations in Puerto Rico hav~ grown to 60
feet in height and 1 foot in trunk d~ameter within
20 ears. They are deciduous. The light brown
bar -l is much fissured and scaly and 14 inch or
more in thickness. Inner bark is soft, mhltish, and
almost tasteless. The spreading branches form
an open crown of light gray twigs and-few very
large leaves. Young green twigs, follage, and
flower clusters are covered with fine gray-green
star-shaped hairs.
Leaves are stalkless or short- etioled,. most1
short-pointed at both apex and iase, thickened:
leathery, and harsh, the upper surface green and
rough, and the lower surface light green and soft
hairy. Very large leaves measure as much as 2
feet long and 16 inches broad.
Flower clusters (panicles) are terminal erect
and branched, about 1%-2 feet long and broad.
The finely hairy flowers have a bell-shaped 6-
lobed gray calyx; the funnel-shaped whitish corolla
has a short tube and 6 spreading lobes;. 6
stamens are inserted on corolla tube; and the pisti1
has a 4-celled ovary, slender style, and 2-lobed
sti~:iight brown, finely hairy ball fruit (drupe)
has a hard stone contalning 4 or fewer seeds 1/4
inch long (600 fruits to the pound). Recorded in
flower from August to December and with fruits
persisting nearly through the year.
The sapwood is yellowish or whitish. The heartwood
is olive p n when freshly cut, turnin
golden brown upon seasoning. The wood is rnd
Tectona grandis L. f.*
erately hard, moderately heavy (specific gravity
0.55), strong, fine-textured, straight-grained, and
hns distinct annual growth rin oily feel, and
chnracteristic fragrance when gslily cut. Airseasoning
is rapid with minor amount of de~ade
and mith low, uniform shrinkage. ilfnchining
characteristics are as follows : planing, shaping,
boring, mortising, and resistance to screw s litting
are good ; turning is excellent; and san $ i?g
is very poor. The wood works easil but contams
silica which dulls cutting edges. I?' lie heartwood
is very resistant to attaok by dry-wood termite
moderately resistant to subterranean termites, an 3
very durable in the ground. However, the sapwood
is susceptible to attack by termites and is
not durable.
Teak, one of the world's best known and most
valuable timbers, is important in shipbuilding,
particularly for decking. Its many other uses include
fine furniture, flooring, joinery, interior
trim, frames, doors, paneling, carvings, turnery,
tanks and vats, and laboratory fixtures. Thinnine
from plantations serve for posts and furniture.
Trees are cultivated occasionally in tropical
countries as ornamentals for the large leaves and
spreading flower clusters. In Puerto Rico small
experimental plantations have been made on Government
forests to determine the racticability of
teak commercial~y.
grOwinf
TR~ tree is well
adapte to deep soils at low elevation.
Grown experimentally or for ornament at low
elevations in Puerto Rico and in St. Croix and
Tortola.
PURLIC FORSTB.-Cambalache, Carite, Guajataca,
Luquillo, Rio Abajo.
R~Na~.-"Tative of southern Asia from India
to Malaya. Introduced and naturalized in Philippines
and Java. Planted for timber or ornament
and in botanical gardens in various tropical areas
including the West Indies from Cuba and Jamaica
to Trinidad nnd from Panama to Brazil. Grown
in southern Florida.
O~IER conriuo~ NAJ~S.-teca (Spanish) ; teak
(United States, English) ; teck (Guadeloupe,
French).