Newly Discovered Plants that Bear the Names of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

Six plants that are native to Thailand, many of which are endemic, were recently discovered and assigned the name of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Patron of the Thai botanical circle. These include three groups of plants, namely: (i) three orchids that bear the generic name of Sirindhornia (S. mirabilis, S. pulchella and S. monophylla), (ii) a plant that bears the newly-merged generic name of Thepparatia (T. thailandica), and (iii) two plants that bear the specific epithet of sirindhorniae (Bauhinia sirindhorniae and Magnolia sirindhorniae). HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has planted Magnolia sirindhorniae at various sites in Thailand on different occasions. Being the Patron of The Vetiver Network International (TVNI), HRH has been the Chairperson of the Opening Ceremony of all International Conferences on Vetiver (ICVs). Taking the opportunity of HRH's traveling to foreign countries that hosted ICVs to spread her glory in having many newly discovered plants named after her, the author had arranged with the authorities of the host countries for HRH to plant the plants that bear HRH's names. Firstly, in Guangzhou, China, only Magnolia sirindhorniae was brought to be planted by HRH at the South China Botanical Gardens during ICV-3. Secondly, during ICV-4 in Caracas, Venezuela, another plant was added, namely Bauhinia sirindhorniae; both were planted by HRH at the Caracas Botanical Gardens. Lastly, during ICV-5 in Lucknow, India, two sets of the two plants, Bauhinia sirindhorniae and Magnolia sirindhorniae, were hand-carried by the author for HRH to plant at the Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, and the Lucknow Botanical Gardens. This paper describes the discoveries and characteristics of each plant that bears HRH's name, and the sites and dates in three countries that hosted ICVs where Magnolia sirindhorniae and Bauhinia sirindhorniae were planted.