Two British Orchid Books

2006·1.3 MB·English

by  Review By: Paul Martin Brown

838 BR1T.ORG/SIDA
22(1)
The introductory material inciucics articles on the history of research on Himalayan plants
written by Prof. Hidcaki Ohba on pages 4-7, geobotany of the Himalaya on pages 8-il, and a map of
On
the whole Himah\)a. pages 12-25 arc 34 topogiaphical maps. Botanical guides to the areas ol the
An
Himalaya arc on pages 26-32. analysis of the horizontal and altitudinal distribution patterns of
the plants covered in the book on pages 33-30 and adaptive strategies of alpine plants in the
is
Himalaya are covered on pages 40-43. liiinaUiyan plants in the Icngduan nioimtains of southwest
1
China are discussed on pages 44-45.
Although the book in Japanese, the high quality and detail in the photos make the diversity
is
of the flora and vegetation in this unique and highly diverse area easy to comprehend. The number
withm
of individual taxa included lor each genus provides a good sense oi the range of diversity
Some exam A
large genera. pics: risac?jui, 17; AsfrtiLjcf his. 24: GcntianLi,33-J}npalicus. 22: J-Contopodium,
Rhododcndtvn,
10, Meconopsis. 21; Pcdiiidaris, 66; 58; Saxifraga, 66\ SiiHssuicci, 40.
The book beautiful!)' bound on high quaht)' paper and one of the nice features that
is is tlie
when Rumor
pages he flat the book opened at any page, has that an English language edition
is it is
being considered. —DtU'iti £. BouJJord, Havvard University Hcrharia/22 Divinity Avenue, Camhridgc,
MA02l38-2020^U.5.A..david_houJJord@ha}va}d.edu.
Two
Orchid Books
British
Anne and Simon Harrap 2005. Orchids of Britain and Ireland: A and
field site
&
A C
guide. (ISBN 0-7136^6956-X, pbk., durable field guide binding). Black,
WID
38 Soho Square, London, 3HB, U.K. (Orders: [phone]
cus tome rserviccs @acblack.c om; http://www.acbkick.com/search.asp).
£29.99 ($5k95 480 360 numerous
US), color plates, watercolors, line
art,
pp,
x
49 maps, glossary, bibliography, index, 2L6 13.8 cm.
Michael Folry and Sidney Clarke. 2005. Orchids of the British (ISBN 0-9541916-
Isles.
Pubhshing Wessex Cox
1-7, hbk.). Griffin Press kimitcd, 35 Way, Green,
UK
Maidenhead, Sk6 http://ww
3BP, (Orders: w.griffi npress.co.uk
£45
orchids.htm ($78 US), 390 extensively illustrated with color
pp.,
).
X
photographs; 50 maps, glossary bibliography, index, 27.6 20.5 cm.
k
IS not often a reviewer has the opportunity to review two publications that cover the same subject
and are published at tlie same time. This is the situation with both books on the orchids of the British
Isles. Each bool< covers the + 50 species ]<nown (rom the British isles. Both books are packed with full-
color photographs, maps, technical details, and similar information. Yet they are as different from
each other as apples and oranges. While Foley and Clarke's large format book (published in associa-
tion the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh), contains the more technical information, the Harraps'
work is designed as a field guide—and that it very much is. As a field guide the binding is a durabk^
Flexibind type that is sown and opens flat at any given point. To call it a paper binding is an injus-
tice. The photographs ui Orchids of Britain and Ireland .xre meticulous and sharp in every detail. Al-
though both books use the maps from New Atlas oj the British and Irish fdora those reproduced in
much
book owing
the tiarraps' arc easier to read to the fact that the distributional dots representmg
county records k^r specific time segments are in red, black, and green as opposed to those in Foley
and Clark that are in graduated shades from black togrey to red to pale pink. The wealth of informa-
tion that appears in both books is very complete and covers every possible aspect of the orchids in-
cluding their taxononi\', with extensive notes on more than 50 subspecies, varieties, and forms; dis-
m
tributional inlormation;ccology, and status. Synonyms arc included, although a slightly different
BnUnn
format in each book, hi Orchids of and Ireland the ilarraps go even further and detail the
SIDA22(1):838.2006
839
BOOK REVIEWS
history of the known populations and their current status. Both books treat the genera Dactylovhiza
and
and Epipactis in great detail and make every effort to sort out the species, subspecies, varieties-
no simple not surprismg that the bibliography and glossary arc similar in each work.
task! is
It
much same information what does one book have that the
Given both books cover of the
that
other does not?
@
@
Harrap £29.99
and £45
Clarke
Foley
covers 56 species
covers 55 species
information seeking the
more information extensive specific for
extensive historical
chapter on orchid taxonomy orchids (44 page site guide to 330-f places to
superior
orchids)
see
checklist of species
maps
authors names with the species easier to read distribution
chart each species showing decline over the
photographic hints for
and genera years
keys the genera species of selected
to
chapters by guest authors on cultivation and convenient field guide format
growth pattern graphics of several genera
conservation
Oph
comparative plate of the bee orchids, rys, of
Europe
forma-color and growth forms and both are guilty of
Both books use the term variety the sense of
is
term A albino plant has no coloring other than white-stems, leaves,
the misuse of the albino. true
name Although
What meant whirc-flowercd form often with the albiflora.
and usually
flowers. is is
means
and Clarke by no
the only publication of the two with keys for identification, Foley is a
it IS
field guide and the size limits its use as such. Having a copy of both books would be ideal. Use the
Harraps in the field and then when returning home consult Foley and Cku-ke for confirming or addi-
many
The photographs both hooks are excellent, but in Foley and Clarke of
tional information. in
images were sharp but they were en-
images have blurred. certain the original
the full-page feel
1
beyond The only noticeable errors found in Foley and Clarke. The first,
larged just a bit their limits.
1
simply information taken from an old source: that of Spi ranthes
under Spiranthes romanzofjiana w^as
{x]slci<^cri being a hybrid between 5. wmanzojjiana and 5. ccrniia- It is not been viewed as such for
synonym S.ochrokuca. Information under Pseudorchis
over 25 years. Spiranthes {x\stcigcri is a for
The
albida stating that occurs in North America from the east to Alaska is incorrect. species, as P.
it
Quebec on
Newfoundland and western the
northwestern a single site in
slraminca, restricted to
is
Hudson's Both could have been easily found in Flora ojNorth America.
shore of Bay. facts
none
Biographical information given for both Foley and Clarke and their guest authors but
is
the Harraps. k would have been nice to know a bit about them and their other work. All iour
for
primary authors should be congratulated on their work as these two books are a major contribution
recommended
and
21' Century's knowledge of wild orchid in the British isles arc heartily for
the
to
an orchid hunting expe-
both the novice and professional alike. If you are visiting the British Isles for
uscful.-Paul Martin Brown^au-
dition the Anne and Simon Harraps' field guide will be especially
The Wild Orchids oJNorth Amcriai, Wild Orchuisofthe Southeastcyn
thoK Wild Orchids Florida,
of
SW
FL [email protected].
Un 10896 90"^ Terrace, Ocala, 3448J, U.S.A.,
iicd States.
Mexico
Orchids of
J
9-6878-8908-
and 2005. Orchids of Mexico. (ISBN
Lopnz Rosas, R.L. Drfssler.
Mexico Spanish and English
Published by Institute Chinoin, A.C, City.
X, hbk.).
[email protected]; Redacta, de
S.A.
versions available. (Orders:
SIDA 22(11:839.2006