Biodiversity
A dinosaur among plants, the fire resistant Cicas sp.
Both the Cicas and the Curcuma (a ginger species) belong to the poorest forest type in Thailand, the so called Dry Dipterocarp Forest. Both revive after last years' annual forest fires, and the vegetation starts to blossom after plentifull rainy days, like this year. This sight is still quite common, but you have to walk through areas of Imperate cylindrica grass these days to get there. This and the tormenting sun doesn't always seem to be attractive to tourists, which are therefor hardly seen.
Hill evergreen forest or lower montane forest is one of the richest and most diverse forests in Thailand. This type of forest still consists of undiscovered species, even some tall tree species haven't received a scientific name yet. Some of Thailands' rare or endangered animals are still living here, such as the Tapir, Gibbon, bears, but especially this is home to the Tigers. The climate in this forest is temperate and receives plenty of rain or mist.
A rare parasite living of the roots of a liana Tetrastigma. This is the Sapria himalayana which is proposed to be included in the Red Data Book of the IUCN as an endangered species.
Mushrooms are still under-studied in Thailand, no field guides are yet available. Even the Thai Flora is not fully published yet.
