Customer Reviews

The Genus Cypripedium (Botanical Magazine Monograph)

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Specialist books such as this are few and far between. It is a good thing then, that this book is by no means a let down in any department. It contains concise and factual information about the genus Cypripedium, ranging from cultural details, to taxonomic and nomenclatural discussion, and including information on the distribution and relative rarity of the species the genus encompasses. The photography and art presented within is of fantastic quality, and helps to complete a very thorough and admiral work covering these North American and Pan-European gems. Superlatives abound.

This monograph includes a little bit of everything, as usual for one of Dr. Cribb's books: history, morphological analysis, ecology, and even culture (this last by Holger Perner). The largest part of the book is devoted to descriptions of the species, each accompanied by a beautiful ink drawing and a map showing the taxon's distribution. Most, if not all, are also illustrated with a color painting and/or a photograph in situ. This book is essential for anyone with the least interest in these orchids. And even if you weren't interested before--you will find this book to be seductive, and you will find that you are enthralled long before you read every page.