TEAK. GREENHEART. 



(Tectona.} (Nectandra.) 



There are two Teaks ; the principal one ( Tectona grandis\ 

 a native of Asia, has been called the "Oak" of the Indian 

 forests, the other (Oldfieldia africana} is an African tree.* 

 The Greenheart (Nectandra rodiali} is of the laurel family and 

 grows in South America. The woods, although foreign, are of 

 such nature as to have widely established reputations, and each 

 has at some time been used in construction. 



Teak suggests oak, save that it is lighter and has a more 

 uniform structure. It is very durable, and an oily secretion 

 repels insects and preserves iron fastenings. During the 

 supremacy of wooden vessels it was regarded as one of the best 

 ship-building woods in existence. The grain fits it for carv- 

 ings, and it is now known in North America chiefly because 

 of this fact. Indian teak is the wood usually referred to. 



Greenheart, a South American wood, was early placed 

 among the first class of ship-building woods by Lloyd's Regis- 

 ter, and is yet taken to Europe to some extent for dock- and 

 ship-building and for implements, but is seldom found and but 

 little known in the United States. It is strong, hard, durable, 

 and extremely heavy, the latter quality being so pronounced as 

 to limit its field of usefulness. It was hoped that such hard 

 wood would resist attacks from marine borers, but this has not 

 been the case. (See page 190.) Greenheart is suited for rollers, 

 pins, and similar articles that require great strength and dura- 

 bility. Finished pieces of selected woods are so rich in appear- 

 ance that it is surprising that they are not seen oftener. They 

 are of wax-like, green-yellow or browns. A small quantity of 

 Greenheart is used in American cabinet work. 



* It was long supposed that African teak was supplied by the species Swietenia 

 senegalensis. It is now known that the source is Oldfieldia africana, of the family 

 Euphorbiacece. It is not impossible that wood passing as teak may be derived 

 from yet other species. 



