World’s Oldest Teak Trees in Trouble
According to online reports from the spring of 2009, the two oldest known teak trees, located in Kerala, India are beginning to die. The famous flora duo is located on the Conolly plantation in the Malappuram district of Kerala in Southeast India. The trees are each about 163 years old, having been planted sometime between 1842-1844.
The plantation where the teaks reside is named after H.V. Conolly, the onetime Collector of Malabar during British colonial rule. He was said to have been an important figure in the planting of teak trees throughout the entire Nilambur area. Shri Chanthu Menon, a local forest officer working with Conolly on this venture, is also praised for his efforts. As a sign of respect, he is famously interred in Conolly’s plot on the plantation grounds.
In the teak garden, there exist a total of 117 trees, of which two have begun to show signs of decay, including the appearance of marked wrinkles, with some reports claiming that they are already 90% dead. Despite this tragedy, tourists are still allowed to visit the garden and gaze upon the bittersweet sight.
Teak has enjoyed a long and fruitful history as a valued building material for thousands of years. Used originally in the construction of structures and housing in its native Southeast Asia, it became popular in Europe after the British came upon the tree in their vast colonization of the area and brought the wood west, out of the monsoon forests and into temperate climes, where it became a staple of the iconic “English garden.”
Teak was also heavily used in the building of ship decks around this time because of its amazing strength, weather-resistant qualities and its ability to keep surrounding metal parts from rusting. From there, teak became synonymous with park benches throughout Europe, where some benches still around today date back some two centuries.
As the most popular wood choice in patio furniture, teak is not a newcomer to the world of outdoor entertainment, but it’s become the most profitable and well-known outlet as far as teak production. Sadly, the world’s oldest teak trees don’t have a bright future, but you can pay homage to the celebrated species in your own way. Owning a piece of teak furniture is not only a sound investment; it’s also like owning a little piece of history.
Read the original news report here: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/feature/worlds-oldest-teak-trees-dying-in-kerala_100191972.html#ixzz0f5DoYWuZ
