Teak

   Kyun in Burmese, historically Burma's most important forest resource. Teak (Tectonia grandis) is a deciduous tropical hardwood that grows best in upland areas, often reaching tremendous height (50 meters) and girth (5 meters). Easily identified by their large leaves, teak trees grow in mixed forests, where they comprise no more than 10 to 15 percent of all arboreal species. Durable and insect-resistant, a tree can take as long as 150 years to reach maturity. Traditionally a royal monopoly, teak was used for the construction of Buddhist monasteries, royal palaces, and substantial housing, as well as furniture and elaborate wooden ornamentation, the latter being a welldeveloped art in Burma. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the British used it extensively for shipbuilding. After the Second AngloBurmese War, they established a strict system of forest conservation that delivered high yields without depleting forest reserves, making teak an important colonial-era export. The system continued, with some modifications, until the untrammeled commercialization of forestry under the State Law and Order Restoration Council after 1988. Although Tectona grandis is found in Thailand, China, Indonesia, and India, the world's most extensive stands of teak, 70 percent of the total, are found in Burma. Because of foreign exploitation and the popularity of teak for use in furniture and flooring, however, they are being rapidly depleted, especially along the Thai and Chinese borders.

   See also Architecture, Religious; Architecture, Traditional; Anglo-Burmese War, Third.