Question

Which one of the following is the most durable wood?
(A) Shorea robusta
(B) Cedrus deodara
(C) Dalbergia sissoo
(D) Tectona grandis

Answer 1

Indian subcontinent is rich in many hardwood tree species in its forests and mountains. They are very durable and used exclusively in the making of indoor as well as outdoor furniture.

Complete answer:
Tectona grandis wood or teak is the most durable wood among the given options. It is a tropical hardwood tree belonging to the Lamiaceae which is mainly native to south and southeast Asia. It is found in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. This species has two centers of genetic origin- one in India and the other in Myanmar and Laos.
The wood is yellowish in color that darkens as it ages with dark patches on it. The sapwood is different from hardwood in having a whitish to pale yellowish color. The wood is very hard and ring-porous with a density of 660kg/${m^3}$ at $15\%$ moisture content.

Additional Information:
Shorea robusta or sal tree is a species of the Dipterocarpaceae family which is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is moderate to slow-growing with a maximum height of 30 to 35m. It is also one of the sources of hardwood in India with a hard, coarse-grained wood that is lightly colored.
Cedrus deodara or cedar tree is a species of Pinaceae family which is native to the western Himalayas in Eastern Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan and India, Southeastern Tibet, and Western Nepal. Deodar also possesses durable, rot-resistant, and close-grained wood that has great importance in the construction of barracks, public buildings, bridges, canals, and railway cars.
Dalbergia sissoo or North Indian rosewood is a tree belonging to the Fabaceae family which is native to the Indian subcontinent and southern Iran. The wood has several uses like timber, fuelwood, construction, etc. The heartwood is durable and golden to dark brown in color and is very resistant to fungi.

So, the correct answer is "Tectona grandis".

Note:
Teak is very high in oil content and high with tensile strength therefore is very suitable in places where weather resistance is necessary. It is mainly used in making outdoor furniture, boat decks, cutting board, indoor flooring, countertops, and as a veneer for indoor finishing. In India, it is exclusively used in making doors, window frames, furniture, and columns and beams in homes.