There will be nine different lineages in 80 colours at "The Royal Orchid Paradise" from May 18 to 24 - the number of hues corresponding to the birthday in December of His Majesty the King, in whose honour the show is being held.

His Majesty pointed out in 1991 that there are many rare species of Thai orchids and encouraged people to help preserve and cultivate them.

Thailand has since become the world's second-largest orchid exporter after the Netherlands. We ship some Bt2.5 billion worth of blossoms annually and Bt500 million worth of plants.

And yet the Bt10-billion orchid industry is a fraction of the country's overall flower market, estimated at Bt500 billion, so growers know there's still a lot of room to ... grow.

The Thai climate has been found to favour more than 174 separate orchid lines, and these have been nurtured into more than a thousand hybrids.

In fact, says Horticultural Science Society of Thailand president Ananta Dalodom, local orchid cultivation has advanced in leaps and bounds.

"Apart from the natural species, there are plenty of hybrids, which are more distinguished and more beautiful," he notes.

"Orchids have become an important economic crop thanks to the prices they command, the growers' competence and the initiative and support of Their Majesties the King and Queen. Her Majesty, for example, sponsors her own project to preserve and develop the Lady Slipper species."

Next week's show - to which admission is free - will feature a competition for the Crystal Royal Trophy, to be awarded by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and an exhibition of watercolour paintings by Somjai Reiss.

The plants on view at the Royal Orchid Paradise will come from the gardens of Chaiwat Withayatornrat, Suwan Hirunworawuttikul and Viroj

Varasrai.

Among the nine lineages, the Ascocenda is a hybrid of the indigenous Ascocentrum and the smaller-flowered Vanda. Its bright yellow blooms are large and appear more frequently than those of its parents.

The charm of the Cattleya lies in its notched petals, which look sweet and soft. Known as "the queen of orchids", it originates in South and Central America. In Thailand it carries the name "Cattleya Queen Sirikit".

The Dendrobium, found across Asia and the Pacific, is the broadest line of orchids. Its cheerful blossoms make it popular with growers and as offerings to Buddha images.

The Oncidium from the Caribbean countries is distinguished by its graceful stem and small petals, and some species give off a light, sweet scent. The bloom lasts for up to two months.

The highly collectible Paphiopedilum is the Lady Slipper, famous for its unique petal and cup arrangement.

The Thai Lady Slipper has a shorter stem than that found in the Philippines and Europe. There are 15 native species in Thailand's deep forests, right across the country, and since it's hard to grow, it has been officially protected since 1992.

The Phalaenopsis is the classic orchid, bringing to any room a touch of luxury due to a mighty stem, offset by its white, almost round petals. The line has been highly developed in Taiwan, where it's the main orchid export. The best-known Thai hybrid is named for Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana - the "Phalaenopsis Princess Chulabhorn".

The Horticultural Science Society's participating in two major flower expositions in China means that visitors to the Royal Orchid Paradise will be able to see "The Creek of Phalaenopsis", a floral decoration from Taiwan.

The Renanthera, also indigenous to Southeast Asia, has a high, airy stem and spotted petals ranging in colour from red to yellow.

The "king of orchids" is the Vanda,  loved by all for a bloom that comes in all shades and can spread to eight inches. Collectors pay top price for outstanding examples, as much as Bt2 million in one case.

The Rhynchostylis, also found in Thailand, has a stem similar to that of the Vanda but in tubular bunches. There are only three natural strains. Rhynchostyli retusas can have more than 100 blossoms in a bunch.

by Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation