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About
Thai Orchids
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By
Cattleya / Photos by Induang
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The orchid is generally known
as the name of some kinds of flower. But for
the botanists, it is classified in the Orchidaceae
family of the same category of plants having
a single seed leaf (monocotyledon) such as ginger,
galangals, sedge, flags and hemp.
At present, there are 796 genera or 17,500 species
of orchid all over the world, mostly in the
tropical zone, where there are enough sunlight
and humidity, and the temperature does not fluctuate
much. Of this number, 177 genera or 1,150 species
were originated in Thailand's forests.
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Cattleya Pamela Hetherington
x Khorat
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Orchids
can be widely divided into two types as follows:
1. The Terrestrial Orchid generally grows
on soil or beneath soil. It has a short life cycle.
Its root underneath soil can spread out many sprouts
which will emerge above the ground to produce
leaves and flowers.
2. The Epiphyte Orchid grows on another
plant and are commonly found on the nooks of cliffs.
It has a long life cycle. Trunks of this kind
of orchid are various. Some are round and straight;
others are flat and with edges. They have roots
which stretch out to absorb moisture and nutrients
from the air and rain. |
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Vanda Wirat
x Madame Rattana
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| Orchids, called
in Thai kluai mai, were recorded in several
ancient Thai literary works. For example, it was
mentioned in the Inao, a well-known epic
with a Javanese background written by King Rama
II (1809-1824). |
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Paphiopedilum Gratix No "Joe
092"
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| Earlier in the
Ayutthaya period, Prince Thammathibet also mentioned
orchids in his poem Nirat Than Sok or The
Stream of Sorrow. |
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| Orchids have
long been popular among the Thais because of their
brilliant colours and lovely shapes. During a
festival, women living in the northern provinces
of Thailand such as Chiang Mai, will be dressed
in traditional costumes and wear wild orchids
behind their ears. Orchids arranged in a vase
or basket are given to people on many occasions
such as for congratulating, blessing or expressing
regrets. |
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Ascocenda Tubtim x Vasco.
Nongkhaem
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Soon before the outbreak of
World War I, the first Thai known to cultivate
orchids, Prince Thiwakorawong, learned the method
of growing this kind of beautiful flower from
a British immigrant named Henry Alabaster* who
came to cultivate orchids in Thailand. At that
time, that was still a difficult process, but
a few genera were successfully developed, including
the Cattleya, Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis.
The next noted Thai orchidologist was Prince
Woraphinit of Nakhon Sawan. In 1917, he wrote
the first Thai book on orchids called in Thai
Tamra Kluai Mai.
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Ascocenda Vaewravee Gold
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| The prince classified
Thai orchids according to the international systematic
rules, and introduced the appropriate methods
of growing orchids to Thailand. |
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Rhynchostylis gigantea
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Owing
to his promotion, orchid growing became a popular
hobby among Thais, especially the rich. However,
these activities came to a standstill during World
War II.
After the war, the hobby gradually revived. Several
foreign botanists and horticulturalists came to
Thailand to investigate and found that Thailand
was one of the largest areas in the world where
wild orchids grew in abundance and that the number
of Thai orchid species exceeded 1,000. And around
mid-20th century, orchid planting became a source
of income.
In 1957, The Orchid Association of Thailand was
set up to promote orchid culture both as a recreation
and as a source of income, by opening courses
on orchids at Kasetsart University in Bangkok.
Nowadays they are operated by Horticulture Major,
Faculty of Agriculture.
Another master of orchids in Thailand to whom
Thai orchid circles owe a debt of gratitude is
Professor Rapee Sagarik. Throughout his life,
he has dedicated himself to developing the culture
of orchids and their propagation. Up to now, there
are several hybrids of orchids cultivated by him
such as Vandopsis Sagarik, Ascocenda Sagarik and
Rhynchostylis gigantea 'Sagarik strain'. |
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| As
a result of the promotional efforts made by the
government and the private sector alike, and also
because of the favourable natural environment,
Thailand was able to begin to export cut-orchids
in 1968. From then on, Thai orchids have been
listed among the top ranks of the world orchid
market. In 1999 the export value was 1,024 millions
baht, and in 2000 it rose to 1,231 millions baht,
in 2001 to 1,494 millions baht and to 1,653 millions
baht in 2002. The biggest orchid market of Thailand
is now Japan. See the table below for the values
of orchids exported to various countries in 2002. |
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Country
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Export
Value
(million baht)
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Japan
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674.3
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USA
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362.5
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European Union
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304.7
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China
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56.9
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Taiwan
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56.9
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One
of the best known orchid species cultivated in
Thailand is the Vanda Fa Mui. The flower is blue,
which is a colour rarely found in other kinds
of orchid. Apart from this, Thailand is also famous
for Paphiopedilum, Cattleya and Phalaenopsis genera.
Many foreign orchidologists have come to Thailand
to buy species from these genera for breeding
with other species of orchids.
At present, orchidologists and orchids growers
are making every effort to cross-breed orchids
and create new species. Though the process to
get a new hybrid is time-consuming and tough,
most orchidologists have found it worthwhile when
the propagation meets with success. |
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| It
is undeniable that orchids do have a powerful
influence on their viewers. When walking pass
a flower shop or stall in a market, we tend to
stop, though for only a while, to admire their
awesome beauty. |
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A species of Paphiopedilum
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Phalaenopsis-
Happy Girl
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More
About Thai Orchids
• The most durable species suitable to
export as cut-orchids are Den. Sonia 'Ear Sakul',
Den. Sonia "No.17" and Den. Sonia "Joe
Red".
• The most popular genus for cultivating
is Dendrobium. They are cultivated mainly in six
central provinces of Thailand: Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi,
Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi and Bangkok.
• If you are in Chiang Mai province, why
not consult with your travel agent about paying
a visit at an orchid farm to admire the colourful
orchids and purchase some as souvenirs? |
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| *Henry
Alabaster was later given a Thai surname Savetsila
by King Vajiravudh.
Special
thanks to Khun Krairit Vejvarut, President of
The Royal Horticultural Society of Thailand
Under Royal Patronage and Khun Suvitchai Sangtien,
Vice President of the Thai Orchid Growers Association
for giving useful information to Thaiways.
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