CHRIS HELLIER slips on his jiving shoes to relate the tale of a bush with a sense of rhythm

In the Udorn Sunshine Nursery in north-east Thailand, botanist Pradit Kampermpool, 65, kneels beside Desmodium gyrans (otherwise known as Codariocalyx motorius), a stringy 16 in. (40 cm.) high weed like plant, cupped his hands and began singing softly to the hybrid. Soon its small secondary leaves began moving up and down in jerky back-and-forth motions that have given the plant one of its nicknames, the Udorn dancing Tea Plant. The shrub is also known as the Telegraph Plant, because of its response to music, singing and gentle talk.

Kampermpool produced the hybrid a few years ago, based on the herb Cha Chalor Charu, which was used for centuries in Thailand for its supposed anti-ageing properties. The plant was known to respond slightly to sounds, but was becoming increasing rare in the wild. Kampermpool’s hired workers found a specimen in the jungle in 1991. He decided to cultivate the plant to save it from possible extinction and, by seven years of selective breeding, to increase its response to sound.

“I wanted to produce a plant with good movement which responds well to people,” he explained as he sat between a bed of dancing tea and an extraordinary display of hybrid orchids. “But we don’t know why they move. They don’t like too many people, though. If there are many people nearby, they don’t know how to react. But with one person, they dance very well.” The dancing plant responds even better to violins and saxophones. One of Kampermpool’s assistants also entertains visitors with a music box which, when opened, triggers off two musical chickens. This evidently pleases D. gyrans as it sways and jitters to the tinny jingle.

News of the plant has spread throughout Thailand and local psychologists have even been visiting the Sunshine Nursery with disturbed patients. “Mental patients watch the plant and feel happy,” says Kampermpool. It helps to cure their nerves – like meditation.” He claims it responds to meditation and telepathy by moving its leaves in a manner “comparable to classical Thai dance.”

Recent tests by the Thai Herbal Institute and the Pharmaceutical Faculty of Mahasarakham University in Bangkok have shown the plant to have very high levels of antioxidant including vitamins A, C and E. Herbal practitioners claim the tea strengthens the immune system, improves the skin and general health, and slows the ageing process. Others believe the drink helps prevent helps prevent and cure cancer of the stomach and intestines by keeping the urinary tract clean.

“Thanks to the Thai Herbal Institute,” says Kampermpool, “we now know the chemical properties of dancing tea. But we still need to study it more. I want to know why it moves the way it does. What’s its function? Maybe the plants are communicating with each other. Maybe they’re saying: ‘I want to get back to the jungle’ or ‘Hey, don’t destroy the jungle’”, he laughs.

The medicinal properties of Thai Dancing Tea are now well established and in 2003 Kampermpool began producing the first dried tea. This year he plans to produce “as much as possible.” Other countries have shown an interest in the strange plant and Udorn’s enterprising botanist, already well known for his orchid essence perfumes, is seeking foreign investment to help export D. gyrans and expand production.

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