Question

Tectona grandis belongs to the family of
(a)Lamiaceae
(b)Anacardiaceae
(c)Rubiaceae
(d)Labiatae

Answer 1

Hint Ectona grandis is the scientific name of the teak tree which belongs to Southeast Asia and is cultivated for its durable wood. It belongs to a family that is known for its aromatic members including culinary herbs such as basil, oregano, and rosemary.

Complete Answer:
The teak tree is native to south and southeast Asia mainly countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Thailand. They are found in monsoon forests and are large trees growing up to 30-40 meters. Teak is a tropical hardwood tree species which is an economically important species as most of the commercial teak products are obtained from it. It belongs to the family Lamiaceae and just like the rest of the members of this family, it also has white fragrant flowers arranged in dense clusters. Teak wood is known for its durability and water resistance and hence it is used for boat building, exterior construction, etc.

Additional information:
Lamiaceae: The Lamiaceae family was formerly called the Labiatae and it consists of a group of flowering plants that are fragrant and used for culinary purposes. This family is commonly known as the mint family. It is the largest family for the order Lamiales consisting of more than 7000 species. Common members include basil, mentha, sage, hyssop, lavender, etc.
Anacardiaceae: This is also known as the Cashew family or sumac family and it is a family of flowering plants with about 860 species. The members of Anacardiaceae bear fruits that are drupes. Common examples of this family include pistachio, cashew, mango, plum, etc.
Rubiaceae: It is a family of flowering plants and is commonly known as the coffee or bedstraw family. It consists of trees, shrubs, and herbs that usually have opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules.

So, the correct option is ‘Lamiaceae’.

Note:
-The biggest (47 meters) and oldest teak is present in Uttaradit, Thailand and it is more than 1500 years old.
-Tectona grandis plant was first described by Linnaeus in his work Supplemetum Plantarum.
-The seeds of cashew and pistachio are edible and called nuts whereas the edible part of the mango is the fruit.