The flora of Thailand is amazingly rich and diverse. The forest area occupies more than ten percent of the entire area of the country. In the southern regions there are evergreen tropics, and in the north - tropical deciduous forests. About twenty-seven thousand species of different plants grow in this country. Thai flowers are everywhere. Temples, streets, houses, cafes, etc. are decorated with chic compositions. Clothes and food are also decorated with flowers of different shades. The annual flower parade is an unforgettable magnificent spectacle, where you can see the most beautiful specimens of Thai flowers. You can find the names and photos of some of them in our article.
Flowers and perfumes
It turns out that flowers are presented to ancestors and spirits much more often than to living people. Before entering any temple, in order to appease the deity, they definitely offer to purchase a sprig of jasmine or a lotus flower. And in the temple itself there are garlands made of fresh flowers. Surprisingly, many spirits have their own real estate. On the pillars there are small houses,decorated with different fresh flowers. Every morning, the locals renew this colorful offering with fresh specimens of Thai flowers. Photos of some of them are in the article.
Lotus flower
The lotus flower is considered a symbol of purity. In addition, for every inhabitant of Asia, it is sacred. He is personified with purity, wisdom, with the meaning of life, as well as with the sun, the universe and the Buddha. The bud, breaking through the muddy silt, opens on the surface of the water with large white-pink, bluish or cream-colored petals, from which it is impossible to take your eyes off. Seeds ripen in a basket, which is located in the center of the flower bowl. It pleases the eyes for only two days, and then new buds open to replace it.
In Buddhist temples, during religious ceremonies, these Thai flowers are presented as a gift to deities. The smell of the lotus is sweet and quite strong. According to beliefs, its aroma protects from the evil eye. In the food and perfume industry, only white lotus is used. The stems and flowers of the plant are added to first courses, and the seeds are added to pastries. A decoction of rhizomes is used for medicinal purposes.
Orchid
They are found everywhere in Thailand: they decorate houses, hotels, as well as tourist sites. On one stem of this magnificent plant, up to ten luxurious buds bloom. The Thai orchid flower has about a thousand species, which are represented by all shades of colors - from white to black. There are also specimens on the petals of which there are various inclusions. Species diversityorchids is truly widespread and exceeds the number of mammalian species by almost four times, and birds - by two. At home, these flowers are problematic to grow, and in Thailand they grow well in the wild. For violent flowering, a capricious beauty needs moisture, light and heat. You can admire these flowers in the orchid garden.
And on an island called Phuket, which covers an area of about fifteen thousand square meters, there is a farm with more than twenty thousand species of orchids from around the world.
Thai Flowers: Sesbania grandiflora
The plant has other names: "butterfly tree", "hummingbird tree". Large flowers are collected in inflorescences brush, with which the crown is strewn almost all year round. The fruit is an even pod, twenty to sixty centimeters long, containing twenty seeds. Corks are made from wood and used for tropical buildings. In cooking, immature pods, tender leaf plates and flowers are used. They are added to vegetable dishes, salads, consumed fresh. An infusion from the bark is poured into various soft drinks. All parts of the plant are rich in B vitamins, iron and calcium. In folk medicine use:
- Infusion of flowers - increases lactation.
- Root juice mixed with honey has an expectorant effect.
- Fruits - cure anemia, bronchitis, reduce fever.
Sesbania is active against twelve pathogenic bacteria. Alkaloids isolated from seedssuppress tumor cells (this fact is currently being verified).
Plumeria
Thai white flower, whose name is not known to everyone, but the appearance is known to many. Plumeria is a plant with strongly branching thin stems, belongs to the genus of tropical trees. Under natural conditions, reaches a height of ten meters.
The sheet plate is large, linear, has a rich green tint. White flowers exude an amazing aroma. The petals are very dense, so the flowers remain fresh for a long time after cutting. Inside each flower there is a so-called yellow eye. The fragrance of plumeria cannot be confused with any other, it is highly appreciated by florists and perfumers. Probably worth dwelling on this representative of the Thai flora in more detail.
Symbol of Thailand
The common name for this Thai flower is frangipani. In India, they say that this is Krishna's favorite flower, and the tree on which these magnificent flowers with an unusual aroma grow is called the "tree of life." In appearance, it is completely inconspicuous.
A cut branch with buds can give roots. And if you cut the stalk in accordance with all the rules, then it will remain for several months, and without requiring soil and watering. Here is such an amazing Thai flower. Plumeria, due to its wonderful aroma, is used in the production of cosmetics - aromatic oils, soaps, shampoos.
Lilavadi (another name for plumeria) is usually planted on the territory of temples, so it is also called"Temple Magnolia" The most common types of plumeria:
- red - flowers from pinkish to red shades, oblong leaf plates;
- white - the petals are snow-white, as if covered with wax, the middle of the flower is yellow;
- blunted - has a long corolla, leaves with clear veins.
Plumeria breeding. Care
For propagation choose a completely woody branch without flowers. Cut off the top obliquely, about twenty-five centimeters long. Existing leaves are removed. The stalk is dried in a shady place and then wrapped in cloth. In this form, he is ready to move. Upon arrival at the site, the stalk should be rooted. For these purposes you will need:
- a container of about three liters;
- palm soil;
- sand;
- pebbles.
The flower pot is filled with earth and sand in layers. Pebbles are used to firmly fix the cutting. Twice during the year, the tree is transplanted into a larger container.
Reproduction by seeds is rarely practiced, as it is a laborious process. Flowers will appear only after three to five years. Often, plumeria seeds are sold along with soil, which is poured into a container, watered and covered with plastic wrap. For speedy germination, conditions are created for lower heating.
The main sign of a good development of the root system is the appearance of leaves. Up to this point, the plant is demanding on bright lighting, moderate watering and heating the bottom of the flower pot. In addition, you need to create the followingconditions:
- put the pot on the sunny side;
- keep roots warm;
- water moderately in winter, abundantly from spring to autumn;
- spray regularly.
Interesting facts about plumeria
The incredibly beautiful flower was named after the French botanist C. Plumier. It was he who in the seventeenth century found a tree whose aroma of flowers shook him to the core. And the earliest mention of it is found in an old Spanish chronicle.
Plumeria was known to the Aztec tribes, it was used to decorate altars. The use of colors varies from country to country:
- Peru - fallen flowers were used in religious ceremonies. It was forbidden not only to touch them, but also to smell them.
- Hawaii - fragrant wreaths are made from flowers.
- Indonesia - According to legend, those who are buried under a plumeria tree will find eternal rest in its shade.
- India - in this country it is considered the favorite flower of Krishna and is called the "tree of life".
- South America - Plumeria is known as the flower of May in this country.
Roses
Grow them in the north of Thailand. They are somewhat inferior in quality to the Dutch ones, but on the other hand, they can be purchased by a large part of the population with a low income, and thus please their loved ones and relatives. In the center of the Thai capital is the main flower market of Bangkok, to which various flowers, including roses, are brought from all over the Kingdom. It works around the clock and invariably attracts a lot oftourists.
Flowering plants
Exotic plants you should definitely admire include:
- Bougainvillea - climbing shrub blooms all year round. Compositions from this unpretentious and hardy plant are found everywhere. Small flowers are white, hot pink, yellow, and purple.
- Zingiber is a plant of a very unusual shape and known to everyone as ginger.
- Chinese rose, or hibiscus is a shrub with large, mostly red flowers. The petals are double and simple.
- Odollam ceberus is a poisonous tree reaching a height of eight meters. In another way, it is called sea mango, since its fruits are similar to this fruit. The flowers exude the scent of jasmine. The fruits contain a toxin that blocks the calcium channels in the heart muscle, causing rhythm failure.
- The walnut lotus is a sacred and highly revered flower. A bouquet of lotus buds is a common offering to spirits.
- Caesalpinia - these beautiful Thai flowers, thanks to the original and bizarre flower, are called the butterfly or bird of paradise.
- Religious Raithia is a symbol of spirituality in Thailand, it is called the flower of Buddhists. It is one of the most beneficial and beautiful tropical flowers with an exhilarating fragrance that helps you enter into a state of deep meditation. It is found everywhere, and especially there are a lot of these shrubs near Buddhist temples.
- Echinodorus cordifolia is an aquatic plant with a large speckled leaf plate.
- Handy, ormimosa - the leaves of this plant, when lightly touched, fall and curl up. The flowers are yellow or pink, delicate and fluffy.
- Etlingera - a pink or bright red hue, the flower looks like a torch, the leaf plate is large.
- Magnolia - the aroma of the flowers of this bush is very reminiscent of the smell of ripe bananas.
After reading the article, you met some interesting specimens. It is impossible to describe all the plants, as well as remember the name of the Thai flowers that are found in this country, since there are a huge number of them. And they all amaze with their exoticism and beauty.
