Rare Species of Thailand Water Lily – A Rare Encounter with Nymphaea “Jongkolnee” at Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Chiang Mai
Nymphaea “Jongkolnee” at Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Chiang Mai
Thailand is endowed with vast diversity of plants, with an estimated 20,000 species of vascular plants and 2,000 species of non-vascular.Situated at the edge of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Mae Rin, the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (formerly known as Mae Sa Botanic Garden) boasts a rare collection of native and exotic plants and a large number of endangered plants.
Open to the public in August 2002, the Glasshouse Complex in the garden is one the hidden gems in Chiang Mai. It comprises 4 exhibition conservatories and 8 glasshouses for plant collections. The Aquatic House shelters over 100 species of aquatic plants and various species of Lotus and Nymphaea collected from neighbour countries such as China and Japan.
The Aquatic House (Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Chiang Mai)
Native to Thailand, Nymphaea ‘Jongkolnee’, this tropical Thai water lily is considered unusual and rare dating back to more than 700 years ago during the Sukhothai period. With its growing popularity among botanists worldwide, Nymphaea ‘Jongkolnee’ is being sought after by plant collectors and aquatic plant enthusiasts for its rarity. The ancient Thai water lily has evolved spontaneously through mutation. Unlike day and night bloomers, Nymphaea ‘Jongkolnee’ stays open after dark! The flower bears multiple layers of soft pink petals and resembles a small double petal lotus flower. The flower has no sexual reproductive organs and is viviparous on the flower!
Covering an area of about 1000 hectares, the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (QSBG) serves as an ex situ conservation center of endangered flora and a paradise for nature lovers,which any nature enthusiast should not miss.
The Glasshouse Complex (Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Chiang Mai)
Open daily from 09.00am – 05.00pm
Getting There:
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Ministry of natural Resources and Environment
Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Tel: (66 53) 841-000
Fax: (66 53) 298-177, 299-754
Email: bgo@qsbg.org
Wedsite: http://www.qsbg.org
Rare Species of Thailand Water Lily – Nymphaea “Jongkolnee”
