Trinity is now one of the leading institutes involved in the study of the Flora of South-east Asia - especially Thailand. Thailand is thought to have almost as many plant species as Europe (ca. 12,500) all crammed into a country the size of France; unfortunately the majority of these species are undocumented. Therefore, it is impossible to assess their scientific worth or attempt, effectively, their conservation. At this moment very little is known about the plants of Thailand. and so the herbarium's staff and students have undertaken extensive field work in the tropical forests of that country.
Expedition to the remaining Peat Swamp Forest in the South of Thailand which are extremely species rich.
About 1 in every 120 specimens we collect has proven to be new to science and
so our work has led to the discovery of many new species. Our work in
Thailand is undertaken in collaboration with the
Thai
Forest Herbarium and the
Royal
Botanic Gardens Kew.
A member of the staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew on a joint expedition with TCD, collecting aquatic flowering plants of a beach in southern Thailand.
Tree climber working the dry Dipterocarp forest of Phu Phan nature reserve where many new species have been discovered.
A number of collections have been made in the far east of Thailand (Phu Phan). Recent work undertaken by staff and students of the herbarium led to the discovery of new species of the Mint-family (Labiatae) for the Flora of Thailand.
A former postgraduate student of TCD and member of staff of the
Forest Herbarium in Thailand with a member of the mint family.
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 Pogostemon myosuroides - an uncommon member, in Thailand, of the Labiatae found in Phu Phan National Park.
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Recent work in TCD has produced a substantial set of accounts for the flora including one of the parasitic plant family - Orobanchaceae. The Orobanchaceae family is very undercollected. Many more collections are needed in order to assess this family's conservation status and put in place measures to ensure species conservation.
 Bamboo forest.
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 Christisonia siamensis - a rare member of the Orobranchaceae only found in bamboo forest.
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The recent work undertaken by the herbarium on Thailand reflects a long-term commitment by Ireland to that country. For example, the first person to collect plants extensively in Thailand was the Irishman A.F.G. Kerr, who was a TCD graduate born in Leitrim.
 A. F. G. Kerr in the TCD Botanic Gardens.
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 Afgekia sericea - an attractive member of the pea family, named after A. F. G. Kerr.
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The TCD herbarium contains an excellent representation of Kerr's collections which together with our recent collections have allowed us to target plant groups and areas of Thailand which require further study.
Other major work includes revisions of many other plant families - for example the clove family - Myrtaceae, the Sweetsop family - Annonaceae, a mistletoe family - Santalaceae, a close relative of the carrot family - Araliaceae, Milkwort family - Polygalaceae, etc.
