Sagun / Teak Wood Tree
Tectona grandis
Also known as Indian Oak
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & more
- Flowering
- April-September
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Tectona grandis
- Genus
- Tectona
- Family
- Verbenaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Moist deciduous forests and also raised in plantations
- Habitat type
- Forest, Cultivated
- Native to
- Southeast Asia and Malesia
- Distribution
- Tropical South Asia & Malaysia
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Goa, Mizoram, Assam, Delhi, Puducherry, Jharkhand, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim
- Flowering & fruiting
- April-September
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Leaf shape
- OvaterecordedEgg-shaped, broader near the base.“Its leaves are ovate-elliptic to ovate, 15–45 cm (5.9–17.7 in) long by 8–23 cm (3.1–9.1 in) wide, and are held on robust petioles which are 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) long.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf margin
- EntirerecordedA smooth, unbroken edge with no teeth or notches.“Leaf margins are entire.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf surface
- Hirsute (coarsely hairy)recorded
Typical of the family
- Arrangement
- Opposite
Characters marked “recorded” are for Sagun itself; the rest are typical of the Verbenaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Whiterecorded
- Flower arrangement
- PaniclerecordedA branching cluster of clusters.“Fragrant white flowers are borne on 25–40 cm (10–16 in) long by 30 cm (12 in) wide panicles from June to August.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Cyme
- Fruit
- Drupe
Characters marked “recorded” are for Sagun itself; the rest are typical of the Verbenaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Hindi
- Sagun सगुन,सागौन sagaun,टीकवुड tikavud
- Bengali
- Saguna, সেগুন
- Tamil
- தேக்கு Tekku, தேக்கு
- Telugu
- టేకు, టేకు చెట్టు, టేకు చెట్లు
- Kannada
- ತೇಗ Tega, ತೇಗು Tegu, ಸಾಗವಾನಿ Saagavaani, ಸಾಗುವಾನಿ
- Malayalam
- തേക്ക്, ടെക്റ്റോണ ഗ്രാൻഡിസ്
- Marathi
- Sagwan सागवान, साग, टेक्टोना
- Gujarati
- સાગ
- Sinhala
- තේක්ක
Sagun in India
Teak is the king of Indian timber trees — Sagun सगुन (Hindi), தேக்கு Tekku (Tamil), టేకు (Telugu), ತೇಗ Tega (Kannada), തേക്ക് (Malayalam), Sagwan सागवान (Marathi). Tectona grandis is native to the country's deciduous forests and recorded across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, both wild and in plantations.
Uses
Its golden-brown heartwood is world-famous for furniture, doors, boats and railway carriages thanks to its strength, durability and natural resistance to termites and water. Teak is one of India's most important plantation timbers; minor parts have attributed traditional uses.
How to Identify Sagun
A large deciduous tree with very large, rough, broadly oval leaves (often the size of a dinner plate on young trees) that exude a reddish stain when crushed. It carries airy sprays of small white flowers and papery, inflated, four-chambered fruits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Teak wood tree called in different Indian languages?
- Sagun सगुन (Hindi); தேக்கு Tekku (Tamil); టేకు (Telugu); ತೇಗ Tega (Kannada); തേക്ക് (Malayalam); Sagwan सागवान (Marathi); Saguna (Bengali); સાગ (Gujarati).
- Why is teak wood so valued?
- Teak heartwood is exceptionally strong, durable and naturally resistant to termites and water, making it prized for furniture, doors and boatbuilding.
- How do you recognise a teak tree?
- By its very large rough leaves that stain red when crushed, plus sprays of tiny white flowers and papery inflated fruits.
Verbenaceae
Verbena/Teak family
Sagun belongs to the Verbenaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Verbenaceae
View all Verbenaceae →Sources: GBIF — Tectona grandis (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · iNaturalist — Tectona grandis (regional names, India observations) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Tectona grandis (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)