Dr. Peter Lavarack, Dr. Geoff Stocker, and Wayne Harris. Dendrobium and Its Relatives. Timber Press. 2000.

Dendrobium is one of a few genera of orchids commonly found in florist shops and garden centers. Their bright colors quickly attract buyers who, all too often, have little knowledge of how to properly take care of these plants.

Part One

The book is divided into two parts. Part One contains 8 chapters. The first two deal with nomenclature and taxonomy. Nomenclature deals with plant names and taxonomy deals with the classification of plants into families, subfamilies, tribes, and subtribes. Within each of these divisions, plants are further divided into genera, and occasionally subgenera, which are then grouped into divisions or sections. Confused? Don't worry, so am I! I'll sum up the contents of these chapters by saying that Dendrobium is one of the plant genera in this subtribe and is one of the largest plant genera in the orchid family since it contains at least 1000 known species.

Plant names may be changed from time to time causing much confusion for amateurs and horticulturists. The authors explain why this happens:

All this means that taxonomy is not an exact science and the differences necessary to separate species cannot be fully or precisely defined. The taxonomist must therefore make a somewhat subjective decision based on knowledge, experience and sound judgment. The more knowledge and the more meaningful experience the taxonomist has, the sounder will be the judgment. Perhaps no one should be allowed to revise a group of plants until they have a few battle scars and grey hairs! [Page 21]

Conservation is a critical issue for many plants and animal species today. The authors provide a discussion of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides a list of species classified as threatened with extinction. There are many orchids in this category. Both these organizations seek to guide governments in the formation of their own laws about endangered species. The issue of conservation should be important to every gardener and botanist. Be sure to read Chapter 5 for a good discussion of conservation issues about Dendrobiums and other orchids. It's definitely food for thought when you are seeking to purchase these plants.

Chapters 6 and 7 discuss Dendrobium biology, ecology, and cultivation. I find these to be well written chapters. Reading them will give the orchid grower a good understanding of all factors affecting the successful growing of this species. As a new collector of orchids, I found this information quite informative. Propagation within species is covered in chapter 7 while chapter 8 discusses some of the hybrids being created between species. This part was a bit over my head since I am not ready to try growing orchids from seed. I did find the discussion of vegetative propagation very helpful.

Part Two

This is where the reader finds the descriptions for 413 species and varieties of Dendrobiums and related genera. These are divided into 48 separate groups based on how closely the plants seem to be related to each other. The authors warn us that this is a tentative classification arrangement.

Upon reviewing part two, I feel the best way to utilize this part of the book is to simply use the index to look up the plant you are seeking information on. Doing this means you don't have to know which section any particular species falls in so you can find it in the book.

The plant descriptions are detailed even to the point of describing the shape and size of the pseudobulbs. Detailed cultural instructions are given. These instructions will make a different between having your orchid thrive or just survive.

Photographs

The quality of the photographs in this book makes it suitable as a "coffee table" book. Who could possibly resist these beautiful flowers? I did find a minor problem with the photographs used: I was not always able to see what the foliage looked like - something that limits this book as a way to identify an unknown plant. The majority of the photographs used a black background, which really makes the flowers and leaves (if shown) stand out. Just the photographs could make someone want to start collecting these plants.

Should You Buy This Book?

I don't know how an orchid grower could possibly resist purchasing this book. Most growers have at least a few of these plants. In fact, they are the plants found in garden centers or florist shops that first attract people to this hobby. The information provided is of highest quality and the photography is outstanding. This definitely belongs on every orchid grower's bookshelf. Most indoor gardeners would also be fascinated with it and possibly decide to try orchid growing as a hobby. I can't possibly say enough about this book without using too many superlatives. Buy it as soon as possible. You won't be disappointed.