Orchids: Botanical Portraits: Beauty, Natural History, Botany

A richly photographed presentation of over a hundred highly prized, rare, and unusual orchids.For centuries, the orchid family (Orchidaceae) has enjoyed a special status among botanists and collectors. With over 25,000 species across six continents, their remarkable taxonomic diversity—showcasing dazzling variations in color, form, and adaptation—makes them one of the most coveted living treasures.The renowned floral designer, photographer, and dedicated plantsman invites readers into the complex, beautiful, and often surprising world of orchids. This book showcases in full color some of the most exceptional orchid species from across the globe, with notes on what makes each botanically important or unique.An artistic photographic approach reveals the structure of each flower, bringing pattern, scale, and form into focus through a deconstructed view—a vibrant modern homage to classic herbarium plates. This allows for an unprecedented, close study of each flower’s morphology, revealing astonishing natural history facts such as how highly specialized coevolution attracts exclusive pollinators; the vast spectrum of orchid bloom sizes, from pinhead-tiny to as large as a dinner plate; and their astonishing habitat range, from shaded tropical valleys to chilly wind-blasted mountaintops.An essential volume for orchid enthusiasts and flower lovers alike, this combination of artful photography and accessible-yet-rigorous botanical insight gives readers a deeper understanding of orchids and allows them to explore rare specimens that are truly living masterpieces. Read more