Chantaburi flora

 

Chanthaburi

Chanthaburi (Thai: จันทบุรี, pronounced [tɕān.tʰá(ʔ).bū.rīː]) is a town (thesaban mueang) in the east of Thailand, on the banks of the Chanthaburi River. It is the capital of the Chanthaburi Province and the Mueang Chanthaburi District. The town covers the two tambons Talat and Wat Mai of Mueang Chanthaburi District. As of 2005, the town had a population of 27,602. The town figures in the legacy of King Taksin. In 1981 the Thai cabinet passed a resolution to bestow on him the honorary title of the Great. When the Bank of Thailand issued the 12th Series of banknotes, called  The Great Series, the monument of King Taksin the Great in the town's Tungnachaey recreational park appeared on the back of the 20 baht note issued 28 December 1981, the 214th anniversary of his coronation.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the principal church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chanthaburi, is the largest church in Thailand.

National parks

There area four national parks, along with three other national parks, make up region 2 (Si Racha) of Thailand's protected areas.(Visitors in fiscal year 2024)^[14]

Namtok Phlio National Park	135 km2 (52 sq mi)	(434,440)
Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park	118 km2 (46 sq mi)	(10,059)
Khao Chamao–Khao Wong National Park	84 km2 (32 sq mi)	(156,009)
Khao Khitchakut National Park	59 km2 (23 sq mi)	(582,744)

Wildlife sanctuaries

There are three wildlife sanctuaries, along with one other wildlife sanctuary, make up region 2 (Si Racha) of Thailand's protected areas.

Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary	1,079 km2 (417 sq mi)
Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary	745 km2 (288 sq mi)
Khlong Kruea Wai Wildlife Sanctuary	265 km2 (102 sq mi)

Khao Khitchakut National Park

Khao Khitchakut National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาคิชฌกูฏ) is a national park in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand. The park is located in the Soi Dao Mountains, the Thai part of the much larger Cardamom Mountains, and is home to waterfalls and forests. The venerated Buddha footprint is also within the park premises. On 4 May 1977, Khao Khitchakut was designated Thailand's 14th National Park.

Khao Khitchakut National Park is 28 kilometres (17 mi) northeast of Chanthaburi town in Khao Khitchakut District. The park's area is 36,444 rai ~ 59 square kilometres (23 sq mi).The highest point is Khao Phra Bat peak at 1,085 metres (3,560 ft). The park, one of Thailand's smallest national parks, borders the much larger Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary.

^{The Khao Phra Bat mountaintop is the site of a Buddha footprint and is an important religious place for Thai Buddhists. During the time around the Magha Puja holiday (in February or March) large numbers of visitors make the pilgrimage here. Also on Khao Phra Bat peak there are rock formations to which the shapes of various objects have been attributed: a pagoda, a monk's alms bowl, a turtle and an elephant.} The park's largest

waterfall is Krathing, a waterfall of 13 separate levels, intersecting nature trails at various levels. These falls are fed by the Chanthaburi River. Other park waterfalls include Changsay and Klong Piboon.

Namtok Phlio

National Park

The Mountianous landscape and watershed

of this national park acquires total area of

134.50 square kilometres, blanketing some

area in Amphoe Mueang, Laem Sing, Khlung

and Makham of Chanthaburi. Its watershed

tropical originates many streams, including

Phlio Waterfall which is landmark of

Chanthaburi province.

Mountainous landscape at altitude range between

20-924 metres above sea level, occupies most area

of the park, with the highest peak, Khao Map Wa

Krok, at 924 metres elevation, leaving the rest to

some plains on mountain shoulder and slopes in the

south. Its watershed tropical rain forest supplies

water to various canals such as Sa Bap, Narai, Trok

Nong and Makok Canal.

Phlio Waterfall. The word çPhlioé means sand

or sandy beach, comes from dialect of çChongé

people, local ethnic group here. Some say that Phlio

Waterfall is named after a climbing plant that grows

well on sandy soil. Phlio plant flowers in bouquet and

gives orange tiny fruit at the size of raisin. It is widely

found easily in the area.

This big waterfall never dries up. Its crystal clear

water allows sunshine to get through and illuminate

the sandy floor at over 2 metres depth. Schools of

fish, particularly Soro Brook Carp, in the waterfall and

canal nearby make the place even more fascinating.

Phlio Waterfall is main attraction of the park as

well as most well known picnic venue for the local

and tourists.

◆ Phra Nang Ruea Lom Stupa and Alongkon

Pagoda. Located nearby the Phlio Waterfall, the

stupa and pagoda were built during the reign of King

Rama V (Alongkon Pagoda:1876, Stupa: 1881) to commemorate his queen HRH Princess Sunandha

Kumariratana, who was impressed by natural beauty

of the waterfall during her visit in 1874. The pyramid-

shape stupa houses her ashes.

◆ Khlong Narai Waterfall. The waterfall is in

Tambon Khlong Narai, 6 kilometres from downtown

Chanthaburi, two kilometers off the Chanthaburi-Trat

Road. It is a nice place for naturalists who loves

trekking and exploring the flora kingdom.

◆ Trok Nong Waterfall. This waterfall is well

known for its beautiful surround. Lush and shady trail

leading to the waterfall cuts through beautiful forest

and habitat of wildlife such as Bear, Common Wild

Boar, Civet, Hog Badger, Mongoose and Common

Muntjak whose footprints always scatter around.

Great variety of bird could be spotted.

Nearby is a mountain called Phra Chedi or

Pagoda Mountain on whose shoulder houses a big

pagoda-shape rock.

◆ The waterfall is in Tambon Troknong. Motorist

can head to Phlio Waterfall, turn left at Amphoe

Klung intersection and keep on Khlung-Makham

Road for 10 kilometres, then turn left at Trok Nong

market, heading to Troknong Waterfall for 2

kilometres. The first step is Mai Si Waterfall, the

middle section is Klang waterfall and Torknong is on

the top.

Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park

The park is part of a larger forest cluster in eastern Thailand, along with the adjacent Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary and Khao Chamao–Khao Wong National Park. The forests in the park are healthy evergreen Rainforests, inhabited by many animals such as Clouded Leopards, Gaur and roughly 60 Asian Elephants.

There are waterfalls and streams which are open to visitors, however caution should be exercised during the rainy season, as the current will get very strong. Camping is also available and is popular between November and April

Khao Chamao–Khao Wong National Park

Khao Chamao - Khao Wong National Park, is a National Park in Khao Chamao District, Rayong Province in Thailand. The park covers an area of 52,300 rai ~ 84 square kilometres (32 sq mi)of forested mountains.North of the national park is the larger Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary.

เนตรม่วง Microchirita purpurea

 The Chamao-Wong Mountains forms a western outcrop of the much larger Cardamom Mountains, stretching east, well into Cambodia. Most of the mountain ridge is of moderate slope, reaching about 1,000 metres, but some hillside areas are quite steep. The most prominent peaks are Khao Chamao and Khao Wong, with Khao Chamao as the highest at about 1,024 meters above sea level.

The mountains are known for its waterfalls, in particular the Khao Chamao waterfall originating from the peak of Chamao. This waterfall has 8 tiers with a downward flow of more than 3 kilometers. There is a path along the waterfall and it is possible to walk to the top and observe each tier, a hike that should take about two hours to complete. People always see the antimony fish in layer of waterfall.

Gesneriaceae

Chanthaburi Province in southeastern Thailand is a highly biodiverse hotspot for Gesneriaceae, frequently found in the evergreen forests, limestone outcrops, and granite rocks of sanctuaries like Khao Soi Dao and Khao Khitchakut. Several native and endemic species of earleaf plants thrive in the area. 

Notable Gesneriaceae species and genera recorded in Chanthaburi include:  

Didymocarpus newmanii

Notable Genera & Endemic Species

• Paraboea: A lithophytic, caulescent herb. The highly specific Paraboea maculata is known to grow on granite rocks in Khao Khitchakut National Park. 
• Microchirita: A well-represented group often found on vertical seeping rocks. Species documented here include Microchirita rupestris and Microchirita purpurea. 
• Didymocarpus: Often called "white-snow ear" plants locally. The province hosts narrow endemic species such as Didymocarpus newmanii and Didymocarpus tristis. 
• Aeschynanthus: A group of trailing or epiphytic plants that grow near forest streams. Species like Aeschynanthus membranifolius are native to this southeastern region.
•  Chayamaritia: Formerly classified under other genera, Chayamaritia smitinandii (frequently featuring bright blue/purple flowers) is also native to Chanthaburi's lush terrain. 
• Other Records: The region supports additional species, including Leptoboea multiflora subsp. grandifolia and Damrongia trisepala.

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Administrative divisions

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Map of Chanthaburi with 10 districts

Provincial government

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The province is divided into 10 districts (amphoes). These are further subdivided into 76 subdistricts (tambons) and 690 villages ั(mubans).

1. Mueang Chanthaburi
2. Khlung
3. Tha Mai
4. Pong Nam Ron
5. Makham
6. Laem Sing
7. Soi Dao
8. Kaeng Hang Maeo
9. Na Yai Am
10. Khao Khitchakut