The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Illustrated Dictionary of Orchid Genera

"Alrich and Higgins offer a comprehensive guide to the identification and taxonomic etymology of nearly 2550 color-coded orchid species, including fossilized and pre-Linnaean types in addition to invalidated variants. Paragraph-long entries are organized alphabetically by genus name and are accompanied either by drawings or full-color photographs. Excised from their backgrounds, the illustrations focus solely on contour and interior morphology, rather than surrounding environment. The book opens with a fascinating flora profile, including cellular diagrams, physiological descriptions, and a further reading list. Highly recommended for all botanical collections." "The authors of The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Illustrated Dictionary of Orchid Genera set themselves the task to locate and briefly describe all orchid genus names found in the literature up to 2007. Including genera known only from fossil records, published before Linnaeus, validly published but not accepted, etc., the entries number more than three times the 850 genera recognized today. Following an overview describing the anatomy, physiology, and biology of orchids, the entries for each genus are given a color-coded classification system indicating status of accepted use and other variables. There are publication notes on the name (including variants and misspellings), its etymology, and, when appropriate, the number of species, geographic range, and a brief synopsis of the genus. Each page is embellished with one to six lovely thumbnail illustrations of selected blooms. The last 50 pages provide supplementary information: publication abbreviations, acknowledgments, a glossary, taxonomists, and an illustration index.... It is a good value worthy of consideration for any botany and gardening collection." -- Linda Scarth, Booklist "The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Illustrated Dictionary of Orchid Genera balances the needs of amateur orchid enthusiasts with those of the professional orchidologist, and its layout is very clean and easy to read. This book is not merely a list of names, nor is it a comprehensive treatment of the entire Orchidaceae. It is refreshingly something in between and 'just right' for the office or the home library." -- Kenneth M. Cameron, Director, Wisconsin State Herbarium, and Associate Professor of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison