Library Catalog

Orchids of Tropical America : An Introduction and Guide /

Meisel, Joe E.

Orchids of Tropical America : An Introduction and Guide / Franco Pupulin, Ronald S. Kaufmann, Joe E. Meisel. - 1 online resource (276 p.) : 488 color photographs, 1 table, 36 charts, 1 map

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Orchid Ecology, Diversity, and Conservation -- Orchid Identification -- Orchid Genus Accounts -- Where to See Orchids: Nature Reserves and Conservation Sites -- Bibliography -- Index

restricted access http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_16ec

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.


Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.


In English.

9780801454929

10.7591/9780801454929 doi


Orchids--Latin America.
Orchids--Tropics.
Botany Reference & Guides.
General Science.
Nature Guides & Natural History.
GARDENING / Flowers / Orchids.

orchid family, orchid genera, orchid biology and ecology, plant diversity, tropical plants, natural history, pollination ecology, orchid medicinal use, orchid commercial use, botony.

584/.4098