Rapee Sagarik, father of Thai orchids, passes away

BANGKOK, Feb 17 (TNA) -- Professor Rapee Sagarik, better known as “Father of Thai Orchids’, passed away early Saturday at a hospital at age 95, said doctor Prompong Pirabul, director of Bangkok’s Vibhavadi Hospital. Prof Rapee, a former deputy minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and an ex-rector of Bangkok’s Kasetsart University, passed away peacefully at the hospital due to heart failure, said doctor Prompong. Buddhist religious ceremony will be held at Wat Phra Si Mahathat. Thai orchids have become popularly known worldwide and also a major exports of Thai flowers to date following his untiring works on the development of hybrid flowers. Prof Rapee was married to Kalaya Montrivat. He is survived by his four children -- three sons and a daughter. (END)