Orchids from Thailand

[priz_m]

Does anyone know which orchids are endemic to Thailand? I know someone who's not an orchid grower planning a trip and kindly offered to take pics of any orchid I point his way... suggestions?

I might persuade him to get me one at the airport on his way back, which 3 would you pick?

[Jorch]

Not sure about the US regulations.. but without proper documents (import permits, phytos, etc), your friend might get into deep trouble by bringing you orchids from thailand.

[Mr.Green61]

thailand is major exporter of dendorbiums, vanda, makra,
slippers,giganta, oncidiums. Pls c www.thaiorchid.com and many other sites on The Orchid Mall - Everything in Orchids and c sources and u wil find all thai sources as wel as their pictures

[priz_m]

Oh Jorch well I don't want my friend to get in trouble for sure, he's told me they sell them passed security points at the airport, and are already cleared and neatly packaged for travel.

Mr.Green61 thank you for the links, I'll be sure to check them out

[Bird Song Farm]

Hi Priz and all,
I sure hope they sell them at the airport already to go with no paper work involved. I have friends going to Thailand in September and I'll beg them to get me some.

Mr. Green61 .....when you say giganta do you mean P. gigantea? Do you know if they have an assortment of species phals?

AL

[priz_m]

I know Al I am very excited, he's told me he can buy them for 2-3 Dollars at the airport and for about a dime out in the street markets (A DIME!!!! ), he just never brought any back 'cause he's never met someone as involved as me, so I hope he can get it done.... all of my fingers are crossed

[cloudswinger]

A lot of the cheap orchids on the street markets are wild collected. If there are no papers, he won't be able to bring them into the US. They'll be happy to sell them to him, but US Ag will confiscate them, and possibly fine him depending on how they feel about his intentions. Import permits from the US Agriculture Dept. are free for the average person, you just have to get it ahead of time. Then probably those prepacked plants are ok to bring in. From what I was reading, as long as it looks commercially packed for sale(preprinted labels, clean roots, bagged, etc) and not on the CITES list, it should be ok. You should give him the CITES list so he doesn't get any of those. They're all species though. I'll bet most of the airport plants will be hybrids.

[taipan]

jorch
The only orchids past the barrier in Bangkok are cut flowers ( Dend's,Vanda,Mokara's etc). There are no orchid plants for sale past the barrier. The majority of plants you see in the market are WC & CITES will not give you documents for them ( unless they are hybrids ). If you PM me we can send a copy of our price list to you. We have a CITES registered nursery here & can supply proper doc's to you.

[Baloney]

I'd have to agree with what Taipan said - I only just got back from a short trip to Bangkok and the only orchids seen in the airport past the customs & immigration counters are those selling cut flowers... you won't be able to get whole plants. Not sure if you will be able to get flasks though (I know those are available in Changi Airport in Singapore!).

That said, I managed to find the time to visit some shops selling orchids just south of Chatuchat market (this place called Aw Taw Kaw), and picked up a Blc Mahina Yahiro and a C Portia coerulea... no CITES cert though, as I put them in my suitcase and brought them home...

[cloudswinger]

Just to state the obvious, but CITES only applies to species plants and animals. You wouldn't need it for BLC or Cattleyas(in Asia), since Cattleyas are not native to Asia. You don't need CITES permits for flasks either, if you want to go that route.