Overview:
Marid (Diospyros spp.), a once nearly extinct forest tree in Thailand, is gaining popularity as a high-value economic plant. Known for its beautiful wood grain, edible fruit, and excellent shade-providing canopy, Marid is now cultivated in nurseries like Suan Tangsit in Nakhon Pathom and Suan Adao in Phitsanulok.
Key Characteristics:
• Growth: Thrives in moist environments; can grow up to 1 meter in height and 1 inch in diameter annually with proper care.
• Wood: Hardwood with attractive grain, traditionally used for musical instruments and carvings.
• Fruit: Edible with a unique aroma and a taste reminiscent of a blend between sugar apple and banana.
• Reproduction: Thai varieties often have hermaphroditic flowers, allowing fruiting on a single tree, unlike some foreign varieties that require both male and female trees.
Propagation:
• Seeds are extracted from ripe fruits, cleaned, soaked overnight, and germinated using a moist cloth method. Once sprouted, seedlings are planted in soil and nurtured under partial shade.
Economic Potential:
• Seedlings are sold at various price points depending on size, ranging from 120 to 3,500 THB.
• The wood is in high demand for crafting items like gun handles, musical instruments, and religious sculptures.
• Despite being on Thailand’s list of 158 protected tree species, Marid can be cultivated and harvested on private land.
Cultivation Tips:
• Plant in well-drained soil with ample moisture.
• Use organic fertilizers like chicken manure mixed with coconut husk.
• Space trees about 3×3 meters apart to allow for canopy development.
