Page 14 AQUAPHYTE Fall 2007

International Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts Gather

in Thailand by Paula Biles
The annual Symposium of the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society (IWGS) convened in Asia for the
 first time in the Society's 23 year history. The July 2007 meeting's activities spanned seven days and was attended by
scholars, hybridizers, retailers, botanical garden directors, growers, and hobbyists from 14 countries.
 Several Thai agencies co-hosted the Symposium, which was considered part of the national celebration to honor the 80th
birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Our hosts included Kasetsart University, King Rama IX Public Park, the Thailand
Agricultural Science Foundation, and Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens. They pulled out all the stops to showcase the aquatic
plant side of the country, as well as to show attendees a good time while exposing us to fascinating non-botanical things.
A perfect example of our royal treatment was that their beloved Thai Princess Chulabhorn Walailuk attended the opening
ceremony.
 As is customary with the IWGS, the Symposium was composed of excursions to botanical gardens, visits to aquatic plant
growers, behind the scenes looks at places of interest, and a full day of educational presentations. It goes without saying that
everything took on a completely different flavor since Thailand is known for its hospitality and most attendees had never
been there before. We got to experience several non-customary events, beginning with a "Welcome IWGS" banner carried
in by elephants.
 We visited both Chiang Mai and Bangkok, where we learned how Thais include aquatic plants into their daily life. Every-
where we went and whatever we did, water plants were visible. It seemed that all aspects of the Thai society (food, agricul-
ture, commerce, decoration, clothing, and religion) included at least an aquatic plant or two. Even the median strips in hectic
Bangkok were planted with several varieties of cannas and occasional pots of water lilies.
 One memorable activity was a visit to Bangkok's weekly plant market. It was astounding to see the number and variety of
aquatics amid the countless other plants offered in the small crowded stalls. Since aquatic plants are so popular in Thailand,
it was possible to buy flowers, plants, fertilizer, containers, seeds, tubers, and soil. There were even small plants of the giant
Victoria amazonica for sale, many of them in flower.
Lotuses and water lilies were most common, with
some identified by name (occasionally in English)
but more often by blossom photograph. Prices were ....
incredibly low.
 Unexpected surprises were the pervasive use of .*. .
containers instead of ponds and the great popularity
of water garden displays. It seemed that almost every
home, business (large and small), and temple (gran-
diose and informal) had at least one water feature.
There would be a beautifully decorated pot filled
with water lilies.., or a small fountain with a little
moving water... or a sculptured container filled with ..
large dramatic lotuses. This was the case in busy .
Bangkok as well as laid back Chiang Mai.
It seemed that lotuses were everywhere as
plants, food, temple offerings, symbolic art, and
decoration on items in everyday life. Throughout the
Symposium we learned a great deal about numer-
ous aquatic plants, predominantly tropicals. How-
ever, since the lotus is such a revered and practical
plant, many of the educational seminars and poster
sessions dealt with it. Some of the many Nelumbo
topics included: an ethnobotanical study in Thailand,
development in China, use as a multipurpose crop in
the US southeast, and effects of gamma radiation on
growth. Photo by Paula Biles