Sukhothai Flora

 Sukhothai

Sukhothai (Thai: สุโขทัย, pronounced [sù.kʰǒː.tʰāj]) is a province in lower northern Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, and Lampang. Sukhothai is located in the Yom river basin which has served as an important lifeline of the region since antiquity.The name Sukhothai comes from Sanskrit meaning 'the dawn of happiness'.

The province is home to the capital city of the namesake 13th-century Sukhothai Kingdom, which is traditionally considered the first state of the Thai people.The ruins of the historical cities of Sukhothai; its capital, and Si Satchanalai; its important city to the north, make up the group of monuments registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There has been evidence of human settlement in the area dating back to the later Iron Age. The ancient city of Sukhothai can be traced back to the 12th century around the same period as the reign of Jayavarman VII,before King Si Inthrathit founded the namesake kingdom, making the city its capital.

Earliest evidence of human settlement in modern-day Sukhothai province can be dated back to the late Iron Age with iron smelting as a main drive. By the 9th century CE, the settlement expanded to the hillside of the Khao Luang mountain range and grew into bigger towns with Dvaravati cultural influences. The area came under cultural sphere of Khmer Empire by the 12th century CE, as evidenced by the construction of a Prang on Khao Pu Cha (Khiri Mat district) and Prasat Ta Pha Daeng [th] (Sukhothai Historical Park). The city of Sukhothai itself can be traced back to the 12-th century CE, during the reign of Jayavarman VII of Khmer. At the time the city was built centered around the Wat Phra Phai Luang [th](Sukhothai Historical Park).

Historical affiliations

Khmer empire before 1238
Kingdom of Sukhothai 1238 – 1584
 Kingdom of Ayutthaya 1584-1767
 Kingdom of Thonburi 1767–1782
 Kingdom of Siam 1782–1932
 Kingdom of Thailand 1932–present

 

Protected areas

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Ramkhamhaeng National Park in the south and Si Satchanalai National Park in the northwest are the two national parks located in the province, which falls under the supervision of regional office 14 (Tak). The two national parks saw 22,767 and 13,617 visitors respectively in 2024. Tham Chao Ram Wildlife Sanctuary, comprising 341 km² (132 sq mi), is the province's only wildlife sanctuary.

Gesneriaceae

Several Gesneriaceae species are documented in Sukhothai province, primarily concentrated in Ram Kham Haeng National Park (Khao Luang) in Khiri Mat district. Key species recorded from this specific area include: 

Middletonia glebosa C. Puglisi  



D.orientails

Middletonia reticulata (Barnett) C. Puglisi
Dorcoceras geoffrayi (Pellegr.) C. Puglisi ชาดงรัก
Damrongia orientalis มาลัยอารยา 
Paraboea brunnescens B.L.Burtt ผักกาดหิน
Paraboea reticulata Barnett

Location and Habitat Details

Ram Kham Haeng National Park (Khao Luang): The primary site for Gesneriaceae discoveries in Sukhothai, with elevations ranging roughly from 450 meters to over 1,180 meters. 
Ecology: Typically found in mixed deciduous forests with bamboo or upper montane cover, often growing on granite bedrock or shaded slopes. 

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Provincial government

The province is divided into nine districts (amphoes). These are further divided into 86 subdistricts (tambons) and 782 villages (mubans).

1. Mueang Sukhothai
2. Ban Dan Lan Hoi
3. Khiri Mat
4. Kong Krailat
5. Si Satchanalai
6. Si Samrong
7. Sawankhalok
8. Si Nakhon
9. Thung Saliam