Teak, common name for a tall, deciduous timber tree, of the verbena family. The tree, which attains a height of about 30 m (about 100 ft), is native to India, Myanmar and the Malay Archipelago and is cultivated in the Philippine Islands and Java.
The bluish to white flowers are arranged in terminal panicles, or clusters. The fruit is a drupe.
Because of its durability and strength, teakwood is used throughout the world as lumber in shipbuilding and the construction of furniture; outdoor teak furniture or garden products. Teak has been known to resist the attacks of insects and the corrosive effects of weather for hundreds of years. Substitutes for teak, which have been under cultivation because of the increasing demand, are loosely termed teaks. African teak, or African oak, is a hardwood tree of the spurge family.
Scientific classification: The teak tree belongs to the family Verbenaceae. It is classified as Tectona grandis. The African teak, or African oak, is classified as Oldfieldia africana.
