The beauty of wild orchids in the forest is being preserved with a determination to grow and propagate in the forests as a mission of the Research Office Department of National Parks.
The Departments Genetics and Rare Forest Plants Research Group undertake their mission at the end of the rainy season, in early winter when ‘Aung Plai Chompoo’ bloom to shows off their beautiful flowers.
Pale pink or white flowers, are found in the evergreen forest with cooler weather; including at a high level on large moss-covered tree or at ground level with humus piles.
Flowering is prominent in October and November when Departmental staff collect the pods of beautiful orchids that have developed with seeds germinated in sterile conditions to obtain a large number of plants.
They are then released back to the original place to increase the population and to allow the beautiful succulent plants to grow, bloom, and continue to propagate naturally.
In the 1960s wild orchids could be found growing in thickets in Prachuap Khiri Khan, enthusiasts could find clumps growing in the bushes just off the highway.
Even in the early 1970s one could see attractive pink flowers in full bloom, growing wild on branches of trees not far from the road in Cha-Am, often perched on the branches of trees were several wild orchid species.
