At around this time of the monsoon season, when the Hindu month of Shravan begins, one will witness a few wild flowers and ferns emerging, and greenery all around. However, you will hardly see any flowering trees.
But, if you observe carefully enough, there’s one tree which actually blooms during monsoons in Goa. It is the teak tree (Tectona grandis).
If you take a stroll around any forested area these days, you will come across a cream-coloured patch on the ground amidst all the green. These are the flowers of the teak tree as it flowers profusely at this time of the year.
This tree has small, white or cream flowers which grow in clusters (panicles) at the end of the branch. It has both, male and female flowers, pollinated by bees, flies and ants.
The tree is native to South and Southeast Asia. These trees can grow up to 50 m tall and are easily found here in forested areas of Goa, and even areas such as Porvorim.
Sometimes, they are planted in backyards for their timber, which is considered as one of the best and ideal materials for furniture since it is resistant to termites and other pests, and doesn’t crack or turn black when it comes into contact with metals.
Due to these qualities, it is one of the most commonly used timbers, and also one of the most expensive.
It is also used for boat-building, carvings, frames and more.
The teak from Burma (Myanmar) which is also known as Burmese teak is considered the best. Sadly, teak trees which were growing in the wild were chopped down for many years in Myanmar, until this practice was banned recently.
This tree also has other uses. For example, a pigment from its tender leaves is used for dyeing.
Dr Usha Desai, who conducts tree walks in Goa and Mumbai, shares some interesting anecdotes.
“I love the teak tree since it is one of the few trees that flowers during monsoons. In the monsoon season, one gets its sapling near the mother tree, and new leaves when crushed give a red colour. This fact has always amazed the participants of my tree walks,” she says.
This colour is due to the chemical composition of the teak leaves.
Another interesting aspect of this tree is its giant leaves. At this time of the year, this tree comes to life in a way, and you will see young saplings popping up even on roadsides in Goa. Check the size of the leaves, and you’ll observe that they are really large!
Dr Usha also mentioned that teak is an important part of our history. If you want to witness then, then you should visit the Bhaja and Karla caves in Maharashtra.
Bhaja is a group of 22 rock-cut caves, built in the 2nd century BC. Here, in Cave XII, there is a beautiful wooden ceiling in a horseshoe shape, made of Burmese teak, and it is more than 2,000 years old.
“It emphasizes the fact that teak wood is durable, one of the reasons that furniture, in the past, was made from it and lasted generations!” says Dr Usha.
But, more than its timber, I think one should also give importance to the living tree, especially, at this time of the year when it flowers beautifully. It is indeed a happy sight to look at, especially on a gloomy monsoon day.