Tales of Siam: Stories From the Heart of the Forest
The trees in the Eastern Region vary due to differences in topography, climate, and geological composition. It consists of Sandy Soil, Acid Sulfate Soil, Loamy Soil, and Lateritic Soil. In Eastern Thailand, it is often humid with temperatures averaging 29-35°C. The weather is generally hot and humid, so trees that are found there require sunlight to grow fully.
Tamarindus Indica
Common Name:
Tamarind
Tamarind
Thai Name:
Makham (มะขาม)
Ecological Niche:
Makham (มะขาม)
The tree tends to grow well in full sun. It prefers clay, loam, sandy, and acidic soil types. Makham is a fruit that contains a nutrient-rich, fibrous pulp. Its nutrients may have antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and antiviral effects, among other benefits. It grows wild in Africa in locales as diverse as Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, and Asian Countries.
(Photo by No machine-readable author provided. B.navez assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Bambusoideae
Common Name:
Bamboo Tree
Bamboo Tree
Thai Name:
Mai Phai (ไม้ไผ่)
Ecological Niche:
Mai Phai (ไม้ไผ่)
Bamboo grows in tropical and subtropical climates. It can be planted and grown in a wide range of soils, including degraded soils, except rocky soils. The tree is mostly found in Asia (especially in China, Japan, and Thailand), Africa (especially in Nigeria and Ghana), and South Africa.
(Photo by annieo76 (Flickr profile), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Hevea Brasiliensis
Common Name:
Rubber Tree
Rubber Tree
Thai Name:
Thon Yang Para (ต้นยางพารา)
Ecological Niche:
Thon Yang Para (ต้นยางพารา)
The tree requires a tropical or subtropical climate and about 1,200 mm (50 in) of rainfall per year. Yang Para grows best in regions that are hot and moist, such as Africa. It is also common in Asia - in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
(Photo by Iamshibukc, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
