The rich and often bizarre variety of form exhibited by orchids has long provided a fascination for amateur and professional botanists alike. Once seen as a hobby exclusively for the rich, the cultivation of orchids is now widespread and the need for an accurate and simple guide to the identification of species in cultivation has become apparent. This book aims to fulfill that need by providing botanically correct, yet easily accessible information about this unique and exceptionally diverse group of plants. The main part of the book is based on the text of the family Orchidaceae published in the second volume of The European Garden Flora, with the information fully updated and displayed in a revised format. Simple keys to the genera and to the species allow access to descriptions of 900 individual species which also include references to published illustrations and other useful information. Numerous line drawings of diagnostic features help to make the keys and descriptions easy to understand and use. A brief introduction covers the structural features of orchids important in identification, and gives some information on cultivation and a list of general references.

Shows readers how to make orchids permanent members of the family. This book provides information on: the way to ensure repeat flowering; what to look for when buying a plant; the secrets of success plant by plant; and preserving blooms the microwave way.

LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE & SHORTLISTED FOR THE RICHARD JEFFERIES AWARD 'One man's fascinating mission to save the great British orchid' Mail on Sunday 'Noble work in a time of great change' New Statesman Ben Jacob is the Orchid Outlaw. In the dead of night, armed with a torch and a trowel, he risks everything, climbing into building sites to rescue Britain's rarest flowers from extinction. At once a memoir, a natural history and an inspiring manifesto for a better future, The Orchid Outlaw shows how we can all save our disappearing natural world, one plant at a time. 'A vivid love letter to Britain's orchids . . . Ben Jacob breaks all the rules with enormous success' FRANCIS PRYOR 'Unorthodox and precious' Financial Times 'Enchanting' Country Life 'A fearless battle and a lifelong passion . . . find out why Ben Jacob has risked heavy fines and even prison to save our endangered orchids' Observer

In the opulent kingdom of Eldoria, young Princess Anya lives a life of sheltered privilege, unaware of the dark secrets festering within the palace walls. When a web of betrayal and conspiracy threatens to unravel her family and the kingdom itself, Anya is thrust into a treacherous game of power and manipulation. Haunted by her mother's chilling ambition and the whispers of hidden truths, Anya must summon a strength she never knew she possessed to uncover the sinister plot that endangers her loved ones and her kingdom's future. As Anya navigates a treacherous path of deception and danger, she discovers a hidden resilience and a thirst for justice that will empower her to confront the shadows of her past and emerge as a beacon of hope for her people. "The Orchid's Whisper" is a captivating tale of royal intrigue, family secrets, and the enduring power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. This gripping page-turner will leave you breathless, as you follow Anya's journey from innocence to empowerment, from betrayal to resilience, and from darkness to the radiant bloom of truth.

He has just a few months to complete his quest – no one has ever done it before within one growing season – and it will require ingenuity, stamina and a large dose of luck.As he battles the vagaries of the British climate, feverishly chasing each emerging bloom, Leif Bersweden takes the reader on a remarkable botanical journey.This study of the 52 native species is a fantastic gateway into the compendious world of orchids – one that will open your eyes to the rare hidden delights to be found on our doorstep.Like Two Owls at Eton and My Family and Other Animals, The Orchid Hunter is a charming account of a precocious adolescent’s obsession with the natural world.Leif’s enthusiasm for his quest is infectious, as is the quiet conviction with which he keeps at it, showing how plant hunting can be the ultimate mindful activity.

A valuable contribution to the on-going discussions on evolution within the Orchid family. Dressler's work delimits several major natural groups and emphasises areas needing further study.