Everyone knows teak, the iconic timber tree. Teak is native to southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the Caribbean. The word teak originates from the Malayalam (in the Malabar Coast region) word “theka” or “tekka”. In the seventh-century Tamil literature, this tree is popularly known as the Tevaram.

Teak grows to a large, well-formed deciduous tree. It has papery leaves that are often hairy on the lower surface and small, fragrant white flowers borne terminally on widely branched inflorescences. The fruits are globose and soft.

In Far North Queensland, teak is grown as a plantation crop and occasionally also as an ornamental tree. A stately specimen may be seen in the Cairns Botanical Gardens.