Rayong Flora

 Rayong

Rayong province (Thai: ระยอง, pronounced [rá.jɔ̄ːŋ]) is one of seventy-six provinces(changwat) within Thailand, and lies in eastern Thailand. The province is bordered by Chonburi to its west and north; Chanthaburi to its east; and the Gulf of Thailand to its south. Although the north is hilly, the province consists mostly of low coastal plains. The total forest area is 292 km113 sq mi) or 8 percent of provincial area. Off the shoreline of Mueang Rayong District is Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, consisting of several islands.

National parks

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There are two national parks, along with five other national parks, make up region 2 (Si Racha) of Thailand's protected areas.(Visitors in fiscal year 2024)

Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park	131 km2(51 sq mi)	(1,271,312)
Khao Chamao–Khao Wong National Park	84 km2(32 sq mi)	(156,009)

Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park

Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet (Thai: เขาแหลมหญ้า-หมู่เกาะเสม็ด) is a Thai marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand off the coastline of Rayong, approximately 180 km southeast of Bangkok.

In 1981, the Royal Forest Department declared the archipelago of Ko Samet, along with nine other small islands, the headland of Khao Laem Ya, and the 11 kilometre Mae Rampeung Beach to be a national park, and thus these areas are under the jurisdiction of the national parks department. In August 2013 more than 500 national park officials were deployed to destroy three resorts—Muk Samet, Unseen, and Ploy Samet—which had been built illegally in the park.

Microchirita candida (หยาดขาวลออ)

Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park

Named after two mountains and designated as a national park in 1975, Khao Chamao - Khao Wong National Park is a very small national park covering an area of 84 km². The forest covering the national park is part of a much bigger forest complex including many other protected sites in Thailand and Cambodia. The park is situated mainly in Rayong Province and a smaller part in Chanthaburi Province. It is a popular destination for its waterfalls, viewpoint, caves, limestone mountains, cliffs and hiking possibilities.

Microchirita orathaiae

The mountains of the national park reach an elevation of about 1,000 meters asl, covered with broad-leaved evergreen forests on higher altitudes. The montane forests are the source of water that flows down to Prasae River, providing surrounding agricultural areas with water.

The central south-east of Thailand where the park is located has rainy season from May till October, cold season November to February and hot season March to April.

Gesneriaceae

In Rayong province, notable plants from the Gesneriaceae family are primarily concentrated in the Khao Chamao and Klang districts. These species thrive in the region's unique karst limestone habitats: 

Microchirita orathaiae (หยาดอรทัย): A species with bluish-purple flowers. The lower lip of its corolla is distinctively flat. It is strictly endemic to the Khao Chamao District. 
Microchirita rayongensis (หยาดศรีระยอง): An endemic herb growing up to 30 cm tall with white to pale cream flowers featuring pale yellow throats. It is found in Khao Chamao District. 

Microchirita fuscifaucia C. Puglisi & D. J. Middleton หยาดเนรมิตร Khao Chamao, Tham Neramitra, 70 m,

Microchirita candida (หยาดขาวลออ): A taller herb, reaching up to 80 cm. It features striking white flowers with a yellow spot inside the tube. It is specifically found growing on the limestone hills of Klaeng District. 

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Provincial government

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The province is divided into eight districts (amphoes). These are further divided into 58 subdistricts (tambons) and 388 villages (mubans).

Mueang Rayong Ban Chang Klaeng Wang Chan

Ban Khai Pluak Daeng Khao Chamao Nikhom Phatthana

Local government

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As of 21 November 2019 there are:^[13] one Rayong Provincial Administrative Organization - PAO (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 30 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. The capital Rayong has city (thesaban nakhon) status. Ban Chang and Map Ta Phut have town (thesaban mueang) status and 27 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 37 Subdistrict Administrative Organizations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).