A COMPENDIUM OF MINIATURE ORCHID SPECIES

Orchids represent probably the largest of all flowering plant families on Earth and are renowned the world over for their exquisite flowers. Their remarkable blooms occur in all manner of size and shape, and orchid flowers range from some of the smallest and most diminutive in the plant kingdom to some of the largest and most flamboyant. Historically, the most popular orchids in cultivation have been those with large, showy flowers, however a significant proportion of known orchid species are far smaller. Within this group lie the true jewels of the orchid family, the miniature orchid species, which can produce some of the most unusual and often spectacular flowers of all. This two-volume work, A Compendium of Miniature Orchid Species, presents a richly illustrated insight into the very finest epiphytic and lithophytic miniature orchids currently in cultivation, focusing not only on those species with remarkable flowers, but also the many species that are grown for their striking leaf and plant forms. Produced with both novices and experts in mind, this exhaustive and accessibly written work features individual entries for over 500 different species across more than 120 genera. Each species entry includes nomenclatural and etymological information, as well as cultivation guidance and notes about habitat, conservation status and similarities to other orchids. The species entries also incorporate newly published taxonomic data that is also reflected in the extensive cross-index of orchid names and synonyms, and all species are generously represented with numerous photographs, including images of other species with which they are easily confused.