The flora of Thailand is amazingly rich and diverse. The forest occupies more than ten percent of the total 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 sight 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 much more often to ancestors and spirits than to living people. Before entering any temple, in order to appease the deity, they are sure to 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 natural flowers. Every morning, locals renew such a 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 resident of Asia, he is sacred. It is personified with purity, wisdom, with the meaning of life, as well as with the sun, the universe and Buddha. The bud, breaking through the muddy silt, opens up 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. He pleases his eyes for only two days, and then new buds are revealed to replace him.
In Buddhist temples during religious ceremonies, these Thai flowers are presented to deities. The smell of the lotus is sweet and quite strong. According to legends, its aroma protects from the evil eye. In the food and perfumery industries, only white lotus is used. The stems and flowers of the plant are added to the first dishes, and the seeds to baking. 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 stalk of this magnificent plant, up to ten magnificent buds bloom. Thai flower orchid 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. The species diversity of orchids is truly wide and exceeds the number of species of mammals by almost four times, and birds by two. At home, these flowers are problematic to grow, and in Thailand they grow beautifully in the wild. For lush flowering capricious beauty needs moisture, light and warmth. 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 where more than twenty thousand species of orchids from around the world are collected.
Thai flowers: large-flowered
The plant also has other names: “tree-butterfly”, “tree-hummingbird”. Large flowers are collected in inflorescences by a brush with which the crown is strewn almost all year round. The fruit is an even pod twenty to sixty centimeters long and contains twenty seeds. Cork is made from wood and used for tropical buildings. In cooking, immature pods, delicate leaf plates and flowers are used. They are added to vegetable dishes, salads, consumed fresh. Infusion from the bark is poured into various soft drinks. All parts of the plant are rich in B vitamins, iron and calcium. In traditional medicine use:
- Infusion of flowers - increases lactation.
- Juice from the roots mixed with honey - has an expectorant effect.
- Fruits - cure anemia, bronchitis, lower temperature.
Sesbania is active against twelve pathogenic bacteria. Alkaloids isolated from seeds suppress tumor cells (this fact is currently being verified).
Plumeria
Thai white flower, the name of which is not known to everyone, but the appearance - to many. Plumeria is a plant with strongly branching thin stems, belongs to the genus of tropical trees. In vivo reaches a height of ten meters.
The sheet plate is large, linear, has a rich green tint. Snow-white flowers exude an amazing aroma. Petals are very dense, so the flowers after cutting for a long time keep a fresh look. Inside each flower is the so-called yellow eye. The aroma of plumeria cannot be confused with any other; florists and perfumers highly appreciate it. Probably worth a look at 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." It looks completely inconspicuous.
A cut branch with buds can give roots. And if you cut the stalk according to all the rules, then it will be preserved for several months, without requiring soil and watering. Here is such an amazing Thai flower. Plumeria, due to its wonderful aroma, is used in the manufacture of cosmetics - aromatic oils, soaps, shampoos.
Lilavadi (another name for plumeria) is usually planted on the territory of temples, therefore it is also called “temple magnolia”. The most common types of plumeria:
- red - flowers from pinkish to red shades, oblong leaf plates;
- white - white petals, as if covered with wax, the middle of the flower is yellow;
- blunt - has a long corolla, leaves with clear veins.
Breeding plumeria. Care
For breeding choose a completely woody branch without flowers. Cut off the top obliquely, about twenty-five centimeters long. Existing leaflets are removed. The cuttings are dried in a shady place and then wrapped in cloth. In this form, he is ready to move. Upon arrival, the stalk should be rooted. For these purposes, you will need:
- capacity of about three liters;
- soil for palm trees;
- sand;
- pebbles.
A flower pot is filled with earth and sand in layers. For strong fixation of the handle use pebbles. Twice during the year, the tree is transplanted into a container that is large in volume.
Seed propagation is rarely practiced, as it is a laborious process. Flowers will appear only after three to five years. Often, plumeria seeds are sold together with soil, which is poured into a container, watered and covered with plastic wrap. For early germination, conditions are created for lower heating.
The main sign of good root system development 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 must create the following conditions:
- put the pot on the sunny side;
- keep the roots warm;
- water moderately in winter, plentifully - from spring to autumn;
- spray regularly.
Interesting facts about plumeria
Incredibly beautiful flower was named after the French botanist S. Plume. It was he who in the seventeenth century found a tree whose flower aroma shocked him to the core. And the earliest mention of it is found in the ancient Spanish annals.
Plumeria was known to the Aztec tribes, it was used to decorate the altars. The use of colors in different countries differs:
- Peru - fallen flowers were used in religious ceremonies. It was forbidden not only to touch them, but also to smell.
- Hawaii - make fragrant wreaths of flowers.
- Indonesia - according to legend, the one who is buried under a plumeria tree will find eternal peace in its shadow.
- India - in this country it is considered the favorite flower of Krishna and is called the "tree of life."
- South America - in this country, plumeria is called the May flower.
Roses
They are grown in the north of Thailand. They are somewhat inferior in quality to Dutch, but on the other hand, they can be acquired by a large part of the population, which has a low income, and in this way please their loved ones and relatives. In the center of the Thai capital, there 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 many tourists.
