The worldwide marketplace for timbers has few select wood types that are praised above others, and while few types are praised for his or her exquisite properties, the famous Sagwan remains constant during a world of adjusting tastes. Often considered to be one among the foremost important timbers within the world, Sagwan tree has managed to stay in popularity due to its rare combination of mechanical and physical properties. watching worldwide trends, there’s not a possibility that the Sagwan tree will soon become eclipsed by any other sort of tree.
Originally found in tropic regions of South and Southeastern Asia, today Sagwan tree has managed to spread all across the planet where it’s used not just for commercial exploitation but also because of ornamental use in parks and botanical gardens. The most important natural reserve of Sagwan tree is found in Myanmar, where half the whole population of this tree currently resides. This tree is understood for its physical beauty due to the appealing mixture of the elevated open crown that’s crammed with many smaller branches that get crammed with small fragrant flowers and enormous papery leaves that always feature hairs on their lower surface.
As the cost of Sagwan tree continues to rise thanks to increased government regulations of its export, alternatives within the sort of purpleheart, iroko, and angelique have begun to gain within the worldwide market.
What is the Sagwan Tree?
Sagwan tree or Teak tree is an amazingly versatile tropical hardwood tree that has managed to become the central component of eastern Asia boat and bridge building industry over the last 2000 years.
- Scientific Name: Tectona grandis
- Family Name: Lamiaceae
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Rank Name: Species
- Order Name: Lamiales
- Genus Name: Tectona
Quickly after the establishment of trade lines between Asia and therefore the west, teak became known worldwide for its ability to face up to the natural elements, which makes it one among the well-liked lumber for the creation of outside flooring, paneling, construction elements, indoor furniture, and in fact boats. Since it’s very strong and sturdy, it’s extensively applied for outdoor construction and creation of external wooden objects that are built to last. With its strong natural oils, this wood features a natural protection against insects and decay.
The versatility of the Sagwan tree enabled it to become one among the foremost preferred lumbers within the modern woodworking industry. Teak is definitely cut, has almost unmatched rot and termite resistance, and is extremely durable. Despite the presence of a high amount of natural oil, teak is often easily glued and polished, especially after the surface is treated with a light solvent.
Origin
Even though it had been in heavy use in woodworking for several millennia, original classification in scientific books are often traced to distant 1782. By then, Sagwan tree has become one among the foremost important tropical hardwood tree species from the angiosperm Labiatae. Growing into the massive and deciduous tree within the forests of south and Southeast Asia (where it as often called as “ Burmese teak”), this tree managed quickly to become known worldwide and kickstart an outsized commercial exploitation phase that has led to the disappearance of the many old forests crammed with most spectacular samples of this tree.
Today, Sagwan trees are often found across the countries of India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh, with the most important forests and commercial exploitation happens in Indonesia where Sagwan trees are grown on large plantations controlled by the state-owned foresting enterprise Perum Perhutani. The second largest production site of teak lumber is found in Nilambur, in Kerala, India. Thailand had an upscale Sagwan forest, but much of it had been hampered over many periods of aggressive commercial exploitation. In addition to the natural forests and plantations in Asia, industrial plantations of Sagwan also are located in many locations across the planet, most notably Africa, Caribbean, Latin America (Costa Rica) and South America.
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Characteristics
Sagwan trees can usually grow to a really impressive size, and can grow uninterrupted in some cases for over 1000 years. The oldest and largest Sagwan tree is found in Thailand, where it managed to measure for 1500 years and reach a height of 47 meters high. The most important teak tree in Myanmar features a trunk width of 8.4 meters (27.5 feet),
Sagwan Tree may be a giant sequoia, it’s average length is from 100 feet to 150 feet. The bark of the teak is fibrous, brown or gray in color. Its branches are quadrangular, grooved.
Sagwan leaves
Teak leaves are about 1 to three feet long. Its leaves range from 1 / 4 to a foot wide, these leaves are elliptical or oblong like skin, rough to the touch and have a pore on the rock bottom of the leaves. The seams found within the main leaves are 8 to 10 pairs, its leaves have subtle red glandular spots that turn black.
Sagwan flowers (flowers)
Teak flowers are engaged in wreaths. The floral wreaths are 1 to three feet long with many branches, which have fragrant and little flowers.
Sagwan fruits
Sagwan fruits are small 10-15 ml. On the façade covered with irregular, circular follicles of diameter, some are covered with pointed, hard, tetragonal, brown inflated extracellular shells.
Sagwan Seeds
Teak fruits contain 1 to three seeds. Sometimes there are 4 also. Seeds are white-colored, 4 to eight ml long. they’re long. The essence is tough, firm and grey. In teak, there are flowers in the rain and in winter.
The high oil presence in its structure has made Sagwan (Teak) one among the favourite lumber types for the assembly of not only outdoor and indoor flooring and paneling, but also furniture and boats. Over 2000 years of presence in boat building are often attributed to the Sagwan’s high strength, flexibility during woodworking, high resistance to rot and weather elements, and it’s low shrinkage ratio which is incredibly important in boats which need to remain watertight during yearly changes in moisture.
Types
Since teak may be a part of a really large Labiatae, it’s several close relatives which will even be viable for commercial exploitation of high-quality lumber. Here are the foremost common sorts of Tectona genus of the tropical hardwood trees:
- Tectona grandis – Common teak, originally growing in South and Southeast Asia.
- Tectona philippinensis – referred to as Philippine teak. Currently marked as endangered thanks to excessive commercial harvesting.
- Tectona hamiltoniana – referred to as Dahat teak. Grows in Burma, and is additionally marked as endangered.
Uses
Sagwan tree is an incredibly versatile sort of wood, which makes it possible to ascertain it everywhere around us from large construction elements to small home items. Here is where you’ll most ordinarily find it:
- Ships and boatbuilding
- Exterior construction
- Exterior and interior flooring
- Exterior and interior paneling
- Turnings
- Carving
- Various small wooden objects
- Durable outdoor furniture
- Cutting boards
- Countertops
- Veneer
- Indoor furnishings
- Door and window frames
- Indoor structural beams and columns
Benefits
In addition to great characteristics for woodworking, Sagwan tree is additionally known for its other beneficial properties both inside its structure and by attracting wildlife which will be harvested for the creation of home remedies. Teak leaves also are used as food for several sorts of larvae of moths.
Sagwan tree leaves and bark also can be used as food. Leaves are commonly used for the creation of jackfruit dumplings called “Pelakai gatti” within the Tulunadu region in South India. Leaves also are used as a seasoning in Central Java, Indonesia.
Human health benefits of Sagwan tree are:
- Helpful for fat reducing and bark paste is valuable for pain reducing
- For treatment of baldness and skin infections, use its seed oil.
- Sore and cuts are treated by its leaves juice
- Bark kwath is used in amoebiasis
- Bark decoction is very helpful in abortion and Dysmenorrhea.
- Inner essence of the Sagwan tree is helpful in leprosy.
- To treat Gallstones and indigestion, its bark is applied.
- Sagwan tree bark acts to destroy pests and worms.
- Sagwan flowers have an ability to increase hair and to erase itching.
- Its seeds are used in vata disease and its bark for diuretics.
Problems
As many other lumber types, Sagwan tree also causes a strong reaction if you are in contact with its sawdust. Commonest reactions are inflammation of the skin, irritation of the attention and systema respiratorium. Sawdust can easily cause pink eye, rashes, asthma-like symptoms, nausea and vision effects. Extensive processing of Sagwan tree is best done not only with personal protection (eyewear and masks) but also industrial equipment which will remove most of the dust.
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