Discovering New World Orchids by Steve Manning, Rudolf Jenny

2013·0.42 MB·English

by  Review By: Helen Jeude

374
BOOK
REVIEW
New
Steve Manning. Foreword by Rudolf Jenny. 2010. Discovering World Orchids. (ISBN: 978-0-9565594-0-
CW5
1, hbk). Steve Manning, 4 The Cedars, Nantwich, Cheshire, 5GZ, U.K. (Orders: Steve Manning,!
CW5
The
Cedars, Nantwich, 5GZ,
Cheshire, U.K.; [email protected]). £45 (approx. US
$68.25),
8
669
color throughout, x 11
pp., 1/4"
we
Rarely do find such an exceptionally large, carefully researched and documented,
beautifully
illustrated
botanical volume. Where else do you find a chapter titled “POLITICS, INTRIGUE, and JEALOUSY—The
story
of Masdevallia
uniflora”?
Even
the preliminary pages
are fascinating:
• “Do you have any who
idea Baron V have you ever heard of Mr. Falkenberg?”
ir (Fore-
ward, Rudolf
Jenny)
• from South America we
“It is that obtain we
the best orchids have,
might be
related of the adventures experienced by
collectors of Orchids.” (Introduction, F.W. Moore,
Orchid Review, June
1903:163)
By means,
all read the Introduction
first. In part: “The amateur enthusiasts who were willing spend
to
on
orchids and
fortunes other tropical plants were Envy—
often subject to that green-eyed monster as were the
were
sionals incompetent, not
amateurs were aln^LI^rere
all self-centered and w^s much co-operation
between
amateurs and
professionals, between
traders and
customers.”
Each
chapter
is well written and
contains
excellent information. There are beautiful illustrations of
plants, photos,
early
illustrations of
settlements and mines and
flowers, and often maps, comments, bits of his-
tory,
etc.
This an
is excepiinnal volume,
with
exquisite
illustrations, and documented information. Ills
carefully
also a
lascinating, “canT put down"
read Some
it
readers might he a daunted hy a 669-pa|e vofomt.
bit large,
but
absotately
tt IS beautifully
presented,
carefully
researched, and an astonishing
historically informational,
New
florrcultural history of the World
orchids.-HelenJeude, Rorart
Volunteer und Botanical
Assistant Editor,
Institute of Texas, Fort Worth,
Texas, U.SA.