You’ll have to look quite closely to find one of Tak province’s more unusual rainy-season attractions.
Known as “Phitsawong Ta Nok Hook” (พิศวงตานกฮูก), the tiny plant, whose flower has been compared to the face of an owl, is starting to emerge around Doi Hua Mot in Umphang district. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Tak Office, it should remain visible until around October.
Also called “Phitsawong Thaithong” (พิศวงไทยทอง), Thismia thaithongiana is a species endemic to Thailand and recorded at Doi Hua Mot in the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary.
Source: Seub Nakhasathien Foundation Official Website
The plant is extremely small, to say the least, so finding one will take some patience. Much of it remains underground, and Thai environmental authorities have compared it to the size of a match head. Its owl nickname comes from the appearance of its flower, which can look like a tiny owl peering up from the forest floor.
It is unusual in other ways, too. Thismia thaithongiana is a mycoheterotrophic plant, meaning it does not rely on photosynthesis for food in the way most green plants do. Instead, it obtains nutrients through its relationship with fungi in the soil. Most of the plant remains out of sight, making its short flowering period during the rainy season the rare opportunity to spot it above ground.
Source: Seub Nakhasathien Foundation Official Website
In 2018, the species was properly described as new to science. Its scientific name honors Thai botanist Obchant Thaithong, who encouraged research into the genus Thismia.
This year, representatives from TAT’s Tak Office, the Umphang tourism community, and Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary surveyed the Doi Hua Mot area and found several plants beginning to flower. TAT Tak Office Director Thamonwan Charoenwongphisit said visitors need to walk carefully and pay close attention because of the plant’s size, and suggested using a phone or camera zoom to see its details without getting too close.
The timing also overlaps with the return of another major natural attraction in Umphang. Thi Lo Su Waterfall is scheduled to reopen for the tourism season on September 1st, following its seasonal closure during the wettest part of the rainy season.
Source: Thairath Official Website
Officials are asking visitors who find the plants to leave them where they are. They should not be picked or damaged, and care should be taken to avoid disturbing the surrounding habitat.
For those already heading to Umphang for Thi Lo Su Waterfall after September 1st, Doi Hua Mot is an easy addition to the itinerary. The plant is tiny, seasonal, and easy to walk straight past. But for a few weeks each year, this corner of Tak offers a rare chance to find it in the wild.
Paul Rujopakarn