exoticplantsasia Tropical plants in South East Asia

Native of Thailand, in the less disturbed dry evergreen forest of Issan above alt. 150 - 200 metres, this hardy climber can reach 20 metres. Blossoming is from August to September. It is propagated by seeds and layering. The dried roots and stems are used to cure boils and some skin problems.
Dr. Chawalit Niyomtham, Director of the Botanical garden section of the Royal Forest Department discovered it in the forest " Phu Thok Noi " Amphoe : Bumkha, Jangwat : Non Khai, in North East Thailand. After consulting with Karl Larsen, an expert in Bauhinia from Denmark, the variety received the name of the princess Prathep Ratthana Rachasuda Siam Bromratchakumari : Sirindhorn.

Bauhinia sirindhorniae

Tristellateia australiasae

Tip : with layering, roots will come in 2 months, large pots are needed. Full light required with loamy well drained soil. Blooming is all year round if well maintained. Root rot if flooded; slow to moderate growth rate.

Left : Goniothalamus laoticus ( G. marcanii )

Meyer & Mongkol Co., Ltd. , 32 / 2 , M. 2 Bangphap Pakret, Nonthaburi 11120 , Thailand. ................................ Mobile 66 81 837 73 93

Mussaenda erytrophylla.

These climbers make superb medium trees ( height up to 1.5 m ) with a 2 metres crown. Coarse texture of the wood. Very appreciated by landscape designers in large areas with a distance view.

They bloom almost all year round in any well drained soil with moderate moisture. - Full day sunlight - Watch black mold, leaf eating carterpillar and mealy bugs…

Rubiaceae

Mussaenda phillipica.

This is a rare ornamental plant. Although it can grow in Bangkok area at sea level and up to 1200 metres in the mountains of north Thailand where winter temperature can be low under 0 celsius, this Goniothalamus is hard to find and scarcely cultivated. I remember seeing one or two in the moist and less disturbed forests of north - Cambodia in Preah Vehear Province

This Goniothalamus on top is the macrophyllus species. I took the picture in a connoisseur's garden in Bangkok. A wonderful candlestick shape. It grows up to 4 metres , with 15 - 40 cm long leaves. Flowering in the afternoons , with scent, from March to May. Seeds from June to August. Propagation by seeds and cuttings. Seeds should be fresh, they are quickly out of use; from seeds, the growth is only 10 cm after year 1 but the plant is stronger; the first flowers will be seen at year 5. Cuttings give faster results. This plant is grown in the ground or in pot, provided that humidity be kept high in a well aerated soil.

Left : Goniothalamus giganteus

The flowers ( max : 8 X 17 cm ) ondulate like waves. Scent is sweet and very strong. This Goniothalamus is found in the forets of South Thailand, where moisture of the air is high. There, flowering is almost all year and more seeds ( slow ). The seeds will germinate in 2 months. However layering gives very good results and the plants pronounced from August to September. The trees can be really tall, up to 20 metres , but 1 metre high plants have also flowers. They have fewer flowers in northern areas. Propagation by layering or are ready to grow in soil after 3 - 4 months. The organic content of the soil must be high.

ARTABOTRYS

Annonaceae

Artabotrys siamensis

A very attractive climber with hairs from Thailand; the flowers turn to a rich yellow;

strong scent in the evening and more at night until the morning.

Below : Goniothalamus tapis

A 3 - 6 metres high plant, with a strong scent and a thin grey bark. Relatively small flowers ( max : 2 x 4 cm ) and large leaves ( max : 5 x 18 cm ). When blossoming the flower color changes from yellow to a delicate yellow-white or light pink.
Propagation : seeds are available all year and germinate in 2 months. They are protected by a kind of mucus that should be washed out. The growth is 20 cm after year one and flowers come the third. From cutting, rooting takes 3 - 4 months. They are good for pots. A too low humidity of the air or full sunlight will induce scorching of the leaves.

Its golden - yellow flowering on leafless branches is fragrant during 2 to 3 days all year round but more days from May to July ; fruiting is in September and October. It is propagated by seeds and layering; from seed one shouldn't expect more than a 15 - 20 cm height during the first year. Then it will grow faster later on, with the first flowers at 5 years old. Heat and full sunlight must be avoided but moisture is essential in the air and soil ( well aerated ). Does well in pots provided that it has been done by layering, otherwise, from seeds flowers would be small, when they appear.

Flowering is year round but denser in January and March. With layering roots will develop fast and strong. In Thailand it is planted in soil and can be used as a quickly growing fence. When grown in jars the largest fit better.

Left : Cananga odorata , " Ilang Ilang ".

Below : Cananga odorata var. fructicosa

From 1 to 3 m high, this very fragrant ornamental plant is a choice because of its good branching in a round shape , broad leaves ( 8 x 14 cm with veins) and a nice dark green bark. Solitary yellow flowers or in clusters at ends of twigs.

Clusters of 3 to 6 flowers; they open green and turn soon to yellow; cultivation in a moist soil and plenty of light will result in a better growth; harder to reroot in coconut fibers than C. fructicosa. Under shade, growth of C. odorata is faster but less ramified and the trunk will not be as strong; propagation by seeds rather than layering will be also faster. It is a medicinal plant with aromatic properties; the flowers are distilled to make the famous " Macassar oil ", also known as Ylang Ylang. In Malaysia the flowers the flowers are used in funerals.

Duranta erecta and a violet similar

Clerodendron thomsoniae

Plants growing in altitude.

Three altitude ranges of the northern Thai forest ( under 800 m, 800 - 1200 , 1200 - 2565 m ) can be subdivided in zones characterised by their moisture level : moist, intermediate and dry. Canopy structure, rainfall rates and water availability, topography, habitat degradation are some important factors to moisture levels. On this subject, and excellent source of botanical information, is in English or Thai version : " Forest Trees of northern Thailand " . edited by Kobfai Publishing Project and distributed by Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; email : cubook@chula.ac.th. We read it to sustain some botanical descriptions of the plants below; cultivation tips rely upon oral or written sources in Thai language. .

In the highland forests of northern Thailand, ( 1200 - 2565 meters ) temperatures are lower and moisture levels are higher than in lowland areas. It rains more, it rains even in the dry season. The moisture of the soils is also increased by the lower transpiration and evaporation rates caused by the low temperatures. Additionally these low temperatures slower the decomposition of the organic matter of the soil so it accumulates to favour moisture retention. In general, in the moist areas of the highland forest, the tree species are more diverse than in drier forests and almost all tree species are evergreen. It is common to find in these areas : Lauraceae, Magnioliaceae and Theaceae... At intermediate moisture sites, the family Fagaceae is well represented. Syzygium albiflorum , a Myrtaceae is also present in these areas.. in the dry sites of the evergreen forest, for example on exposed ridges and steep slopes facing south we will come across the amazing Ochna integerrima , from the same family ( Ochnaceae ) as Ochna kirkii the famous " Mickey Mouse " plant , some Rhododendrons ( Ericaceae ) and Bauhinia variegata to name a few...

It is known that Tropical plants growing in nature at higher altitudes will do better in hot greenhouses & verandas under temperate climates; as if a plant growing at a few hundred meters in altitude was giving it a better " hardiness " in these glasshouses. Typical cases are the Bauhinia ( leguminosae ) , the Theaceae , Camellia sinensis , or C. thea ; Camellia are well known and 18 species of Theaceae are identified in North - Thailand.

In the Magnoliaceae, Michelia champaca, M. floribunda, M. rajaniana or M. baillonii are all wonderful ornamentals growing at various altitude ranges and above 1200 m. The genus Cananga is also well appreciated in tropical greenhouses under temperate clmates : C. odorata and C. var fructicosa ..the family Annonaceae comprises of many more ornamental treasures in altitude : to name a few, in the 0 - 1200 m range : Miliusa velutina, Goniothalamus laoticus , and the goddess of beauty Mitrephora vandaeflora . ( very small flowers .. ) If we tried to select among native plants growing in altitude, those that can also be cultivated in Thailand for their ornamental value, we would find the following plants :

Tropical Plants in altitude


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