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The Queen’s Birthday

The Queen’s own contribution to species conservation

Conservation of biological diversity might be new to certain developing countries which have signed the Convention during the Earth Summit at Rio De Janero, Brazil, in June 1992.

However, in Thailand, a tropical country with a considerable amount of biological resources, Her Majesty the Queen has led the conservation work on biological resources for more than three decades before the creation of the Convention. Most of the obligations contained in the Convention are nothing new to Thailand. In fact, many parts of the Convention are in conformity with Her Majesty the Queen’s work on biological diversity conservation.

On the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday on 12th August, the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Mae Rim sent information of three different kinds of plants that are named after her.

‘Queen Sirikit’ Cattleya Orchid

Queen Sirikit’ Cattleya Orchid

The ‘Queen Sirikit’ Cattleya, or Cattleya ‘Exquisite’, is a stunning hybrid of Cattleya Bow Bells and C.O. brieniana ‘alba’, produced by Black & Flory Ltd. Co., in the U.K. in 1958.

Fragrant and large white flowers, 12-14 cm across, have yellow throats, and bloom all year round. It received the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society and Royal permission to name this beautiful orchid ‘Queen Sirikit’ Cattleya.

‘Queen Sirikit’ Rose

‘Queen Sirikit’ Rose

A hybrid rose between Konigin der Rosen x Golden Giant developed by Reimer Kordes and introduced by McGredy in 1968. The common name of the rose is “Peer Gynt”

The blooms are large, with very full deep yellow petals with a touch of coral-pink to the edges. Fragrance is delicate. It won the Belfast gold medal in 1970, and has been much used for breeding. It is documented in Grands Roseraies Du Val De Loire that the rose represents the charm and beauty of the Queen of Thailand, hence the name Rosa ‘Queen Sirikit’.

‘Queen Sirikit’ Dona

‘Queen Sirikit’ Dona

Queen Sirikit’ Dona is a hybrid between Mussaenda Luz and M. phillippica ‘Aurorae’, produced by the University of Phillippines. Royal permission was granted to name this new hybrid ‘Queen Sirikit’ Dona during the visit of H.M. the King and H.M. the Queen of Thailand to the Phillippines in 1963.

‘Queen Sirikit’ Dona is a shrub about 3 m. high. It has five floral bracts, pale pink with reddish rims. Beautiful bright yellow petals contrast with the pink bracts.