The Indian Oak

Teak (Tectona Grandis/सागवान, साग) is a tall, deciduous tree, having small, beautiful fragrant white flowers and large leaves. Flowers usually appear during the rainy season, and trees tend to flower synchronously. It grows moderately fast and has open crown open with many small branches; the bole is often buttressed and may be fluted with deep root system. 

Though not a garden plant precisely, it has high ornamental value. It is a very important candidate in an ecosystem with a long life span. Due to its tall growing nature, it is a preferred roosting and nesting site for number of birds. Teak tree is visited by number of insects too. It is pollinated by black-ants, flies and particularly by bees. Teak is also used as a food plant by the larvae of moths of the genus Endoclita including E. aroura, E. chalybeatus, E. damor, E. gmelina, E. malabaricus, E. sericeus and E. signifer and other Lepidoptera including Turnip Moth. :-)

Teak trees survive and grow under a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. It is light-demander species. Each pair of its leaves is arranged at 90° to the adjacent pair, so as to maximize their ability to receive & trap sunlight. It grows best in a warm, moist, tropical climate with a significant difference between dry and wet seasons. It is a hardy species which is the first to colonize barren environments or previously bio-diverse ecosystems that have been disrupted, such as by fire. Even young plants show a remarkable capability to recover after fire. Hence Teak is known as a Pioneer species. In contrast to other pioneer species, it is able to persist, dominate and to naturally regenerate towards the climax phase of succession in most parts of its natural range. It occurs naturally in various types of tropical deciduous forests. It is often a dominant member of a mixed deciduous forest, where its main associates are Shorea Robusta, Terminalia spp., Xylia spp., Lagerstroemia spp., Haldina, Dalbergia Latifolia, Bambusa Bambos and Dendrocalamus Strictus. 

Natural regeneration of Teak is particularly abundant in forests exposed to fires. It is also propagated by seeds & stumps. The vitality of teak stumps is remarkable. Soaking the seeds for 48 hours in water before sowing is the best treatment for hastening germination. It coppices and pollards vigorously, sometimes retaining coppicing power to a considerable size.  

Teak is a suitable ideotype for agroforestry because of having deciduous nature, sparse canopy and deep root system. It may be planted as a wind break. Though it gives good quality charcoal, it is usually considered too valuable for it. It produces a yellowish-brown or reddish dye, which is used for paper, clothes and matting. 

According to Ayurveda, it is acrid, cooling, laxative, sedative to gravid uterus and useful in treatment of piles, leucoderma and dysentery. Flowers are acrid, bitter and dry and useful in bronchitis, biliousness, urinary discharges etc. Roots are useful in treatment of urinary system related troubles. According to Unani system of medicine, the oil from flower is hair promoter and useful in scabies. It is also good for head-ache, biliousness, burning sensation and pain and liver related troubles. It allays thirst and possess anthelmintic & expectorant properties.

Teak is one of the most important timbers in the world - a rare combination of superior physical & mechanical properties makes it a paragon of timber, and there is no likelihood of it being eclipsed by any other. Teak is often grown in botanical gardens and is occasionally cultivated in tropical countries as an ornamental for its large leaves and spreading flower clusters.

The Sheep Horn

Medhshingi or Medsing (Dolichandrone Falcata/मेढशिंगी, मेढशिंग) is a small to medium sized deciduous tree with pretty flowers attractively dense and dark foliage.

The flowers are white in colour, and just like the Coral Jasmine / Parijataka tree, bloom in the evening & fall down in the morning spreading the highly scented wave of freshness in summer months of March to May. Even without flowers, the tree shows off its glossy green leaves. It grows at moderate speed. This tree strongly needs to be introduced in city gardens.

The flowering of this tree is very profuse and fragrant. Its flower’s capsule appears nearly quadrangular, curved like a sickle, giving it an appearance of curved sheep horns, hence the name Medhsing or Bhershing. When in bloom, it attracts variety of birds and bees. It is easily propagated by its papery seeds.

The tree is also known to have medicinal properties. It is used to treat diabetes. The Father of  Surgery, Sushruta, had placed the Medhshingi tree in Shaalasaaraadi & Varunaadi Gana, Shiro-virechana & Vaata Samshamana Varga; and describes its use particularly in cataract, vision disorders, head diseases, wound healing and as an anxiolytic. 

Medhshingi gives useful green manure and young leaves, an excellent fodder, are eaten by cattle. It can coppice well, forming a compact crown. Sometimes, it can be used as windbreak in farms. It is very hardy & drought resistant species. It can also grow in poor quality soils. It is fit for propagating in the driest localities and rocky terrain. It makes an ideal ornamental candidate for plantation in urban areas.

The Rosewoods

There is a tree which is often mistaken for Indian Rosewood due to striking similarity in their leaves and flowers. But can be distinguished by somewhat darker bark.

Black Rosewood (Dalbergia Latifolia/काळा शिसम, काळारुख) is moderate-to-large sized tree with a dome shaped crown of lush green foliage. The leaves of Shisham have pointing tip whereas the leaves of this species are blunt and broadly rounded with wavy margins. The broad leaves explains the species name latifolia.

Furthermore, though it sheds its leaves, it can hardly be found leafless. It flowers abundantly in aromatic clusters of white colour creating an eye-soothing view. Due to these reasons, it is noted to attract number of birds, butterflies, insects and wildlife. Hence the tree needs to be introduced in home gardens in urban societies. 

Practically, Black Rosewood is quite similar to Shisham, including their use in agroforestry, apiculture, medicines, ornamental or soil improvement. It is also a Nitrogen-fixing tree and gives the nitrogen-rich foliage which is widely used as a green manure and fodder. Like other member of the genus Dalbergia, its honey is dark amber and strong flavoured.

In a drier habitat, the hardy tree is leafless for couple of months, regaining its leaves in April-May. In a moist locality, it is evergreen throughout the year. The species grows on a variety of soils. It grows best on well-drained, deep, moist soils & black cotton soils. The root system of the tree is well developed with deep tap roots and long lateral roots. It reproduces by seed, root sucker or cuttings. Although no treatment is necessary, soaking seed in cool water for 12-24 hours will hasten germination of seeds. 

Black Rosewood is widely used for reforestation of eroded soils. It is also planted as a roadside tree and shade tree. It acts as a soil improver. The leaf litter decomposes slowly releasing nutrients gradually and it is used as mulch. Medicines are made from the tannins in the bark, for diarrhoea, worms, indigestion, and leprosy. These tannins also produce an appetizer.

There is another species from the same genus, Dhobin or Phansi (Dalbergia Lanceolaria subsp. Paniculata/धोबीन, फणशी, दोंडूस) is a very conspicuous and handsome, deciduous tree. It is eye as well as ear catching tree when profusely covered with flowers and young leaves. The tree is actually loud with the buzzing of thousands of bees. Its flowers are white & fragrant.

This species is a moderately fast growing tree. It is recommended for reforestation projects on degraded land where seeds are unlikely to grow successfully. It is propagated by seeds. Young seedlings grow well in the dappled shade of the forest, but they become more light-demanding as they grow older. 

Different parts of trees particularly seed and bark are used in the Ayurveda; mainly to treat arthritic infections and inflammations.

The lesser known tree species has a great potential in Agroforestry. Dhobin has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. In  other uses, it is used as wind  break for micro-climate enhancement, nectar source for honeybees, and in addition to these leaves are used as a fodder for livestock animals. 

Both these Rosewoods are excellent choice for farmers as well as city dwellers!