GREEN FINGERS

The plant guides

Two books that provide details on the many flowers and shrubs available in Thailand

NORMITA THONGTHAM

Peter Wyborn recently moved into a new bungalow with a garden in Thai Muang, Phangnga, and is now looking for an illustrated book, in English, which will give him details of the many flowers and shrubs available in Thailand. What soil they like, whether they prefer sun or shade, how much water they require, how high they grow, how to propagate them, etc.

"Do you know of a book and where I can buy a copy?" he asks.

There is no book in English which will tell you all you want to know about plants and gardening in Thailand. However, Plant Materials in Thailand (ISBN 974-97948-8-1) by Uamporn Veesommai and Thaya Janjittikul will answer most of your questions and those of other readers looking for the same type of reference book.

Comprising 640 pages and written in both Thai and English, Plant Materials in Thailand lists 1,270 trees, shrubs, flowering plants and herbs grown in Thailand. It is illustrated in full colour, with each picture accompanied by the plant's name and symbols showing its type (whether it is a tree, shrub, vine, herb, bulb, water plant, ornamental plant, flowering plant or weed), its genus and eventual height, and its light and watering requirements.

Part One describes the different symbols and identifies the various plant families, while Part Two shows the plants in alphabetical order.

Part Three divides the plants into different categories according to their general characteristics and how they are used in landscaping. This chapter provides a quick reference to trees, shrubs, ground-cover plants, indoor plants, thorny plants, flood-tolerant plants, plants appropriate to be planted near swimming pools or the seaside, hedges, plants with fragrant flowers, etc.

Its 48 page index makes it easy to find the plants' scientific and Thai names, with the Thai names both written in Thai and English; their family names; and the pages on which they appear in the book.

The authors are leading authorities on the subject of landscaping and plants. Associate Professor Uamporn obtained her master's degree in landscape design from the University of California, Los Angeles and has been teaching the subject at Kasetsart University since 1979. She also has many years of experience doing the landscaping of private and corporate gardens. Thaya is a botanist and teaches at Mahidol University's Faculty of Science.

Available in hard cover at Kasetsart University Book Centre and leading book shops, the book is perfect if you want to identify the plants you have in your collection and want to know their light and water requirements.

But beginners will have to find other sources, such as a future issue of Green Fingers or its web site, http://www.thaigreenfingers.com/, to learn how to propagate plants.

For fern enthusiasts, a book not to be missed is Ferns (Sarakadee Press, ISBN 974-484-234-2), which was unveiled at the Bangkok International Book Fair 2007, being held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre until April 10.

Comprising 456 pages and illustrated with pictures in full colour and drawings in black and white, it is a handy reference guide for those who want to identify the ferns in their collection, ferns they see growing in the wild when they go on a mountain trekking trip, or ferns they are about the buy at the plant market.

The book, in Thai, is written by ML Charuphant Thongtham, associate professor of horticulture at Kasetsart University and Thailand's leading authority on ferns, having headed the Royal Project's fern research for 31 years, and Dr Piyakaset Suksathan, taxonomist at Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens in Chiang Mai.

Available in paperback, Ferns's cover price is 380 baht but visitors to the Sarakadee booth at the Bangkok International Book Fair 2007 will get a hefty discount.

Green Finger's web site, http://www.thaigreenfingers.com/, has a forum section where you can post your questions, chat with other plant enthusiasts or post pictures of your favourite plants for free. Send email to normita@thaigreenfingers.com

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Sunday April 08, 2007