FORRU - Tree Seed Species in the Seed Bank

Language:

"The role of the seed bank is not only to safeguard the genetic diversity of local tree species in Northern Thailand but also to support restoration projects and small-scale school and community tree nurseries in propagating planting stock for forest-ecosystem restoration projects."

Seed bank entrance Welcome to the Seed BankOur seed bank for conserving the genetic resources of local trees in Northern Thailand, was initiated by the Doi Suthep Nature Center (DSNC)  in 2020, in support of the royal initiative of the Plant Genetic Conservation Project by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn  (RSPG). The facility serves as a source for plant conservation and as a repository of seeds for forest-restoration initiatives. Seed preservation is a critical step to maintain seed viability for future use. The bank is maintained by both DSNC and FORRU staff, using preservation methods based on protocols from the Millennium Seed Bank  (MSB) at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England. The MSB also supports the seed bank by funding equipment and materials and by training our staff.

Currently, the DSNC seed bank is conducting research studies on seed storage behavior of 110 local tree species.

Tree seed species currently in the seed bank (updated 19/01/25):

Abbreviations

DBH = diameter at breast height; GP = typical germination percentage; MLD = median length of seed dormancy (days); TNT = total nursery time (from collection of seeds or wildlings to planting out).

To check the suitable forest type and elevation of a desired species please click here.

Acrocarpus fraxinifolius  Wight ex Arn.  (FABACEAE) "Sadao Chang"
Adenanthera microsperma Teijm & Binn. (FABACEAE)
Adenanthera pavonina L. (FABACEAE)
Afzelia xylocarpa  (Kurz) Craib  (FABACEAE) "Makah Mong"
Alangium kurzii Craib (CORNACEAE)
Albizia chinensis  (Osb.) Merr. (FABACEAE)
Albizia lebbeck  (L.) Bth. (FABACEAE) "Pheuk"
Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth. (FABACEAE)
Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng. (PHYLLANTHACEAE)
Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaertn. (PHYLLANTHACEAE)
Antidesma sootepense Craib (PHYLLANTHACEAE)
Bauhinia purpurea  L. (FABACEAE) "Seaw Dok Dang"
Bischofia javanica  Bl.  (EUPHORBIACEAE) "Dteum" (Seed & seedling information here.  )
Bridelia glauca Bl. var. glauca (PHYLLANTHACEAE)
Buchanania lanzan Spreng. (ANACARDIACEAE)
Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. (FABACEAE)
Canarium subulatum (BURSERACEAE)
Casearia grewiaefolia Vent. var. grewiifolia (SALICACEAE)
Cassia bakeriana Craib (FABACEAE)
Cassia fistula L. (FABACEAE)
Ceiba pentandra (L.)Gaertn. (MALVACEAE) "Nun"
Choerospondias axillaris  (Roxb.) B.L.Burtt & A.W.Hill (=Spondias axillaris Roxb. ) (ANACARDIACEAE) "Ma Kak" (Seed & seedling information here.  )
Cinnamomum caudatum Nees. (=Neocinnamomum caudatum (Nees) Merr.) (LAURACEAE) "Chuang Hom"
Dalbergia oliveri Gamble ex Prain. (FABACEAE) "Mai Ching Chan"
Diospyros ehretioides Wall. ex G. Don (EBENACEAE) "Taptao Ton"
Diospyros glandulosa  Lace (EBENACEAE)
Drypetes roxburghii (Wall.) Hurus. (PUTRANJIVACEAE)
Elaeocarpus lanceifolius  Roxb. (ELAEOCARPACEAE) "Ma Meun, Pee Pai"
Elaeocarpus prunifolius Wall. ex Muell. (ELAEOCARPACEAE) "Ma-kham Pom-yai"
Gardenia sootepensis Hutch. (RUBIACEAE) "Kham Mok Luang"
Gmelina arborea  Roxb.  (VERBENACEAE) "Saw" (Seed & seedling information here.  )
Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch. (ULMACEAE) "Krachao"
Hovenia dulcis  Thunb.  (RHAMMACEAE) "Mawn Hin" (Seed & seedling information here.  )
Irvingia malayana Oliv. ex Benn. (IRVINGIACEAE) “Bok duak”
Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. (ANACARDIACEAE) "Kuk"
Madhuca thorelii (Pierre ex Dubard) H.J.Lam (SAPOTACEAE)
Magnolia baillonii  Pierre  (MAGNOLIACAE) "Jahmbee Bah"
Mahonia nepalensis DC. (=Berberis napaulensis (DC.) Spreng.)(BERBERIDACEAE)
Manglietia garrettii  Craib(MAGNOLIACAE) (Seed & Seedling information here. ) "Monta Daeng"
Melia toosendan  Sieb. & Zucc.  (MELIACEAE) (Seed & seedling information here.  ) "Lien"
Michelia champaca L. x M. montana Bl. (=Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre) (MAGNOLIACAE) "Champa"
Microcos tomentosa Smith. (MALVACEAE) "Khom-Som"
Millettia brandisiana Kurz (FABACEAE) "Kra Pee Jan"
Morinda tomentosa Heyne ex Roth (RUBIACEAE)
Ormosia sumatrana (Miq.) Prain (FABACEAE)
Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz (BIGNONIACEAE)
Ostodes paniculata  Bl. (EUPHORBIACEAE)
Phyllanthus emblica  L. (EUPHORBIACEAE)
Prunus cerasoides  D. Don (ROSACEAE) "Nang Paya Sua Krong" (Seed & seedling information here.  )
Rhus rhetsoides  Craib (ANACARDIACEAE) "Gawk Gun" (Seed & seedling information here.  )
Sapindus rarak  DC.(SAPINDACEAE) "Mah Sak" (Seed & Seedling information here. )
Scleropyrum pentandrum (Dennst.) Mabb. (SANTALACEAE)
Sindora siamensis  Teijsm. ex Miq.(FABACEAE) "Mah Kha Tae"
Spondias lakonensis Pierre (=Allospondias lakonensis (Pierre) Stapf) (ANACARDIACEAE)
Spondias pinnata (L. f.) Kurz (ANACARDIACEAE)
Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (COMBRETACEAE)
Terminalia glaucifolia Craib. (COMBRETACEAE)
Trevia nudiflora L. (=Mallotus nudiflorus (L.) Kulju & Welzen) (EUPHORBIACEAE)
Turpinia pomifera (Roxb.) Wall. ex DC. (=Dalrympelea pomifera Roxb.)(STAPHYLEACEAE)
Vitex canescens Kurz (LAMIACEAE)
Vitex peduncularis Wall. ex Schauer (LAMIACEAE)
Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) W.Theob. (FABACEAE)

In addition to conservation, the seed bank serves as an educational resource for students, researchers, and school projects, promoting natural resource conservation. This includes creating media to share research-based knowledge about seeds and forest restoration with visitors.

Seeds are available in small quantities to bonna fide researchers and students undertaking thesis projects and to local schools, starting tree nurseries to grow planting stock for forest-restoration projects, particularly those participating in the Young Forest Restorers Project.

Seed Withdrawals & Distribution

The table below provides a summary of the organizations that have withdrawn seeds from our seed bank, including the species and quantity of seeds provided, as well as the intended use of the seeds.

Date	Organization	Species	Total Seeds Withdrawn	Purpose/Project

Please click on the contact-us tab to make enquiries. The seed bank is located in the Doi Suthep Nature Centre on Huay Kaew Rd, just before the zoo entrance:

Seed Bank location