Common Name: Rhodesian Teak

General Information

Rhodesian teak is a slow-growing, much-branched, semi-deciduous tree with a large, dense, spreading crown[, ]. It grows from 6 - 20 metres tall with occasional specimens to 25 metres[]. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 120cm in diameter and is sometimes swollen at the base[].
One of the most important timbers in its native range, where it is widely exploited for export, though it is little used locally because the wood is too hard to cut[]. The grey stems, dark green leaves, pinkish flowers and dark brown pods make it a very decorative tree, it is sometimes grown in parks and larger gardens[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern tropical Africa - Angola; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Botswana; Namibia.

Habitat

Confined to Kalahari sands, where it is often abundant and dominant in lowland tropical forests, often associated with Guibourtia coleosperma and Schinziophyton rautanenii, at elevations around 900 - 1,200 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moderate elevations in the drier regions of the tropics, where it is mainly found at elevations between 900 - 1,200 metres[, ]. Mature trees can withstand extreme temperatures of over 40°c and have been known to survive severe frost down to -15°c[]. Plants are frost sensitive[]. It is found in areas with a mean annual rainfall of 600 - 1,000mm and a dry season of 6 - 8 months[].
Prefers a sunny position[]. Grows in the wild in deep, infertile, sandy soils[]. Grows best in a well-drained, light to medium soil[]. Established plants have a deep tap root and are very drought resistant[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 5.5, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[].
Coppices well[].
The plant suffers adversely from fires in the dry season, and cannot afterwards compete with fast-growing, thorny, colonizer bushes[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Locally, the bark is used in medicine[].
Decoctions of the bark are used to treat syphilis and to make a fortifying tonic[].
An infusion of the bark is gargled to relieve toothache[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[, ].

The large, shiny, brown seeds are strikingly flat. They are used in various crafts and are often combined with other seeds and beads to make necklaces and other adornments[].

The heartwood is an attractive reddish-brown with irregular black lines or flecks; it is sharply demarcated from the pale pinkish-brown sapwood. The texture is fine and even; the grain straight or slightly inter-locked; lustre is low; there is no characteristic odor or taste. Moist wood in contact with iron may stain because of the tannin content. The wood is heavy, fine-grained, strong and very durable, with a moderate resistance to termites. A slow-drying wood with little or no degrade. It is rather difficult to saw and machine, with severe blunting of cutters and a gumming of teeth if sawn green; it is excellent for turnery and has good gluing properties. Rated as one of the worlds finest commercial timbers, it is used as a general timber for bridge construction, flooring, railway sleepers, furniture, and is used in certain areas as fencing posts[, , ]. The wood is little used locally because it is too hard for native tools to cut[].
The wood makes a good fuel, producing very hot coals[]. It is also used to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - it can be stored for at least 12 months at room temperature[]. Freshly harvested seeds can germinate without pre-treatment, but after drying it may be necessary to scarify the hard seed coat[]. The recommended pre-treatment is to soak the seeds in hot water for 2 minutes at 80°c, followed by soaking in cold water for 24 hours[]. The seeds are sown directly into deep containers at a sowing depth of 4 - 5 cm. Seed viability is high and 80 - 90% of them germinate within 7 - 25 days[]. However, it is difficult to raise seedlings of this species in the nursery because of the long taproot. Just one or two weeks after germination, the tap root will grow below the base of a normal-sized open container and, after 6 months, the seedlings are still only 6 - 7 cm tall but the taproot will have grown 40cm long[].

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