VERBENACE^E. 61 



1 



TECTONA GRANDIS, Limi.f. 



Fig. — ^xh. Cor. PL 1, 10, t. 6; Brand For. FL, 354, 



t. 44; Bedd. Fl. Si/h\, t. 250; Bheede Ilort. Mai. tx., t. 27. 

 Teak tree [Erig.). 



Hab.— W. Deccan Peninsula, Central India, Biirmah. 

 The wood, fruit, and tar. 



Vernacular.— ^3i^(\n [Hind.), Segun {Beng.), S4g, Sagwan 

 {Mar.), Tekku-marara {Tarn.}, Teku-manu [Tel.], Tegu (Can.), 



Sagach (^Guz.). 



History, Uses, &C.— The teak tree is the S^ka o£ 

 Sanskrit writers and the Saj of Arabic and Persian books on 

 Indian Materia Medica. The natives recommend a plaster of 

 the powdered wood in bilious headaches and for the dispersion 

 of inflammatory swellings ; taken internally in doses of 90 to 

 200 grains it is said to be beneficial in dyspepsia with burnino- 

 pain in the stomach arising from an overflow of bile, also as a 

 vermifuge. The charred wood quenched in Poppy juice 

 and reduced to a smooth paste is applied to swellino-s of the 

 eyelids, and is thought to strengthen the sight. The bark is 

 used as an astringent, and the oil of the nuts, which is thick 

 and has an agreeable odour, is used for making the hair 

 grow and removing itchiness of the skin. ( Makhzan-el-Adiciya, 

 article "Saj.") Rheede states that from the young leaves a 

 purple dye is prepared. This colour is due to the reaction of 

 alkalies upon a crimson body, soluble in ether, which is contained 

 in the leaves ; it forms soluble compounds with lead and baryta. 

 Endlicher states that the flowers are diuretic ; this is confirmed 

 by Gibson, who says that the seeds have a similar property ; in 



diuresis 



bru 



to the pubes. In the Fharrnaeopma 



* The word used in the Makhzan ig Mimithn nn~A Z- I T 



by Arabic and rersinn writers— one with vcA a .i , °"C5i.iiu«u 



ir f n - -...o ^7,C. '^^'' '^^'^ers, the other with yellow 



(Conf. Digs. 11., 168,169.) In India y<r/,*».„„- • ' •• y«'J"w. 



„....„ ' ^ *" ^""'« Argemone mexicana is used for 



Alaniitha. 



