Orchids of Tropical America is an entertaining, informative, and splendidly illustrated introduction to the orchid family for enthusiasts and newcomers seeking to learn about more than 120 widespread orchid genera. Joe E. Meisel, Ronald S. Kaufmann, and Franco Pupulin bring alive the riot of colors, extraordinary shapes, and varied biology and ecology of the principal orchid genera ranging from Mexico and the Caribbean to Bolivia and Brazil. Orchids, likely the most diverse family of plants on earth, reach their peak diversity in the tropical countries of the Western Hemisphere, including, for example, more than 2, 500 species in Brazil and 4, 000 in Ecuador. The book also highlights reserves in the American tropics where travelers can enjoy orchids in the wild.
Whether you journey abroad to see these unique plants, raise them in your home, or admire them from afar, this book offers fascinating insights into the diversity and natural history of orchids. Beyond the plant and flower descriptions, Orchids of Tropical America is packed with informative stories about the ecology and history of each genus. Pollination ecology is given in detail, with an emphasis on how floral features distinctive to the genus are linked to interaction with pollinators. This book also features information on medicinal and commercial uses, notes on the discoverers, and relevant historical data.
The easy-to-use identification system permits quick recognition of the most common orchid groups in Central and South America. Genus descriptions are given in plain language designed for a nonscientific audience but will prove highly useful to advanced botanists as well. Descriptions focus on external morphology, and great care has been taken to ensure the guide is useful in the field without reliance on microscopes or dissections. Equally valuable as a field guide, a desktop reference, or a gift, Orchids of Tropical America will make an excellent addition to any orchid lover’s library.
Visit the website for this book at www.orchidsoftropicalamerica.com.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Foreword by Phillip J. Cribb
Introduction 1. Orchid Ecology, Diversity, and Conservation
Biology and Ecology
Diversity and Distribution
Conservation 2. Orchid Identification
What Is an Orchid?
Illustrated Glossary of Key Orchid Characteristics
How to Use This Guide
Identification Guide to Major Orchid Genera 3. Orchid Genus Accounts
Structure and Terminology
Acineta through Zygopetalum 4. Where to See Orchids: Nature Reserves and Conservation Sites
Map of Tropical America
Conservation Sites by CountryBibliography
Index
Über den Autor
Joe E. Meisel is Vice President of the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation. Ronald S. Kaufmann is Associate Professor of Marine Science and Environmental Studies at the University of San Diego. Franco Pupulin is Orchid Curator at the Lankester Botanical Garden in San José, Costa Rica. Phillip J. Cribb is Honorary Research Fellow at the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. He is the author of The Genus Cypripedium.Ebooks vom selben Autor / Herausgeber
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