teak tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian Oak
• Bankok teak
• Indian-oak
• common teak

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Jatus grandis
• Tectona grandis f. abludens
• Theka grandis
• Tectona grandis f. canescens
• Tectona grandis f. pilosula
• Tectona grandis f. punctata
• Tectona grandis f. tomentella
• Tectona theca

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Lamiales, and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, the medicinal species is identified by its genus, Tectona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Tectona grandis, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in the nations of Benin, Gambia, and Togo. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within the territory of Cabinda. Additionally, the species is documented inhabiting the Gulf of Guinea Islands. These locations highlight its preference for various tropical environments within these distinct geographical zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tecoma grandis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1200 m AMSL. This expansive elevational range allows the species to inhabit diverse ecological niches within tropical and subtropical landscapes. While specific habitat classifications are often noted as uncertain or varied, the plant typically colonizes disturbed areas, forest margins, and sunny openings where light availability is high. Its distribution patterns suggest an adaptability to varying microclimates within its established elevational limits, facilitating its presence in both lowland coastal regions and mid-elevation montane environments.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

(?)

Life history

The life history of Tecoma grandis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground level on woody stems, a trait that defines its structural growth habit. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally as part of its physiological cycle. Its development follows the pattern of a phanerophyte, maintaining significant height and structural complexity throughout its lifespan.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tecoma grandis is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that reaches a mean height of approximately 30 meters. As a terrestrial species, it is entirely non-aquatic and does not exhibit any epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly terrestrial growth habit. The plant is characterized as a self-supporting organism, meaning it functions as a robust tree rather than a climber, liana, or vine. Furthermore, it is an independent species that does not act as a parasite, relying on its own structural integrity and nutrient acquisition through its woody framework.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tectona grandis is characterized by several distinct metabolic and structural properties. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard carbon fixation process common to many woody species. In terms of its physical structure, the stem exhibits a specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 601 mg/cm³, reflecting its wood density and structural composition. Additionally, regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, the species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external nitrogen sources from the soil rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

601 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tecomna grandis is characterized by biotic pollination processes, primarily driven by insects and specifically involving ants. The species exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, indicating a reliance on cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. The seeds produced by the plant vary significantly in size, with a minimum mass of 0.24067 g, a maximum mass of 1.1765 g, and an average seed mass of approximately 0.696373333 g. Regarding the movement of seeds, the plant utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, suggesting that its reproductive success is not tied to a single specific mechanism but rather a broader range of environmental factors.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

ant

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

1.1765 g

Seed mass mean:

0.696373333 g

Seed mass min:

0.24067 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tectona grandis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, fruit.

Leaf

1. Journal of toxicology
2. Natural product communications
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flower

1. Journal of diabetes

Fruit

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Tectona grandis has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, 3,8-dihydroxy-2-methyl anthraquinone, 6-methyl-1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone, Betulin, Compound 1.

Gallic acid

1. Journal of diabetes
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

3,8-dihydroxy-2-methyl anthraquinone

1. Natural product communications

6-methyl-1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Compound 1

1. Natural product communications

Compound 14

1. Natural product communications

Compound 2

1. Natural product communications

Compound-4

1. Natural product communications

Flavonoids

1. Natural product communications

IRON

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Activities

Tectona grandis has 26 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antihyperglycemic

1. Natural product communications

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Tectona grandis has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, antihyperglycemic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations