The diversity of Thailand's many flowers reflects its range of natural habitats. Most famous of all are it’s 1,300 varieties of orchids. In the wild, they are protected, but illegal collection has depleted their numbers. My favorite is the Lotus Flower, Thailand's most abundant and useful flower. Everywhere you look in Thailand, you will be surrounded by the beautiful pink gem. The lotus plays a very important part in Thai life. It is the country's most common flower, growing in ponds, swamps, small canals, roadside ditches, on top of pillars in temples, and even in jars. It is not only beautiful, but has many practical uses in the Thai culture, including medicinal values in it’s petals, stamen and root. The large tough leaf can be used to wrap cooked food and the seeds are delicious. Many handicrafts are inspired by the flower's form and beauty. It brought back memories of my first introduction to the Lotus in China last year when I ate the lotus root. Its distinct flavor and unique texture made it my new favorite root vegetable.
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