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Book Review Wild Orchids ofVictoria Australia by Jeffrey Jeanes and Gary Backhouse Publisher:AquaticsPhotographies, 2006. 315pages, hardback; colourphotographs. ISBN09775372OX. RRP$99.95 Jeanes and Backhouse have produced another striking book on indigenous orchids. Quite different from theirreference book from 1995, it records in beautiful colour photographs all the currently known Victorian orchids. They have included multiple photos ofmost species to allow us to appreciate the amazing diversity in form Then by leafing through the various andcolouraswell astheexquisitebeautyof speciesand readingthe texta match should Victoria’s orchids. As well as showcasing be found. I think the pictorial guide is a the orchids, the authors have provided a great idea. It is very accessible, being so very simple method of identifying them in easy to use, and is much faster than work- the field. ingthrough a key. The authors’ enthusiasm and dedication to their subject is obvious - ‘Victoria has erAaltiesrnpartoivviedleyd,,awibtothanaicsailmpkleeyetxopltahneagteionn- an orchid flora of extraordinary richness, ofhow to use it. Possibly the inclusion of comparable with the best in the world for species keys would broaden the book’s 4nito0sw%divroeefrssttirhtieyctsoepfdecteienretrseisraterrlieyaletiootrhcVehiricdteson.r.di.eam.AibcIotuoitrs teahpnpeceeaksle.iynIttfoheeeulnsatdaeltirtetgmlreeonutunsnedaatspytahraetbsobueotgfitnohnrecirhneigfdesor.-f only through increased education and Without a specific warning against collect- awareness, accepting responsibility, pro- ing specimenswithoutauthorisation, a mes- tection and careful management that we sage might be inadvertently communicated Oc‘afrrncohmsiadcfsoeagscutaaanlrdbseatnhdifsoduiunrndreespinltaocmetaahneblyteohpaassbsioettfa.tt..sh’,e tnvhouatltnteoirtaiibnslcelaucpdcleeapnsttusac.bhlIeattwhoairninknitnietgrf.iesrAealnlwiVotivhcetrostrihigeahsnte highest mountains...and are only totally native orchids are protected undertheFlora absentfrom salineareas’. andFaunaGuaranteeAct1988(Backhouse The stated principal aim ofthe book is to andJeanes 1995). The pictorial emphasis of ‘facilitate the identification ofall the cur- the book makes it accessible and appealing rently recognised orchid taxa in Victoria’. to people who may not yet have an aware- In order to identify an orchid we are ness ofthe disastrous effects ofdigging up directed first to find the genus to which it orpickingorchids. belongs by referring to the pictorial guide The introduction includes brief general to genera at the front ofthe book. Here on notes on such topics as taxonomy, geogra- a doublepage each genus is represented by phy, climate and habitats, orchid form, a photo that directs us to a page number ecology and biology, and conservation. where the species for that genus begin. The glossary and labelled photos, showing 56 The Victorian Naturalist BookReview labellum features and the floral parts ofa fire, and reproduction. The derivation of number of different forms of terrestrial thegeneric name is included. orchids, are both essential to thebook. Not The speciesaccount includesthe scientific all the features are clear from the photos. name with the taxonomic authority and one Line drawings could have been more common name, but no synonyms. The instructive in some cases. There are pho- description includes height, number and tographs showing nine habitats, with a list size of flowers, and features of the leaf ofsome ofthe orchidsthat might be found ‘where applicable’. Distinguishing flower in each. I think the habitat photos are a features are given where they would help good feature, although I don't see much in idenification. Flowering period, distrib- point in the lists. In total only about one ution, ‘Broad Vegetation Type’ (developed quarter ofthe orchids covered in the book by the Department of Sustainability and are listed here. I presume that those listed Environment), conservation status, are the more typical for these habitats. hybridisation and distinguishing features Foothill forests and moist foothill forests are all included. I think the conservation are not included here but are mentioned in status should have been highlighted in the text. The index is easy to use and some way to attract attention, especially includes both common and scientific for the rare and threatened species. At names. Maps ofVictoria on the endpapers times the lack of a leaf description was showplacenames mentioned inthetext. frustrating to me in the species account There is a checklist, and a bibliography when I was trying to identify an orchid by which together take up about 20 pages out the leafandbud only. of315. The bulk ofthebook containspho- Although the authors call this book a field tos and text for 364 species, some guide, with dimensions 28 x 21 x 3 cm unnamed, plus 45 named and unnamed (pages slightly smaller than A4) it makes a hybrids, being all currently known taxa at reasonably bulky book to carry in your the time of writing. The orchids are pack. Ithinkoffieldguidesasbeingsmaller arranged ‘according to their similarity of and lighter. In the field it fulfils its aim. On appearance reflecting their relationships’ a recent walk in Box Ironbark forest I used so that closely related taxa can be com- the book to identify a number of species. pared easily. This generally follows The My companion using the keys ofthe Flora Flora of Victoria Vol. 2 (Walsh and ofVictoriacametothesameconclusions. Entwisle 1994). The photos number ‘about Overall, this is a very appealing and use- 1400’ and are of the highest quality. ful book. The photos alone would attract Multiple photos cover most of the page people withno previous interestinorchids, and often include a number ofshots ofthe and the pictorial guide would probably get same species to show the diversity within an observant and determined beginner to the species. Photographs often show the correct genus and possibly species. orchids in their habitat with leaves some- Quite an achievement! Readers with more times shown as well. There are close-ups knowledge would also gain pleasure and showing particular features, and place satisfaction from the book. I think the names are given for each photo. Someone authors will achieve their aim to raise unfamiliar with indigenous orchids might awareness of Victoria’s indigenous be misled by the close-ups as there is no orchids. scale. Size is referred to in the text. Aallltohfotuhgehmtahdedpihnoftoorsmaatrieons.peIcwtoaucluldarl,ikenotto BRaeVcfikcehtrooeurnisaceeG(sThanedMJieaengeusnyJa(h199P5r)esTs,heMOerlcbhoidusrnoef see distribution maps for each species UniversityPress:Melbourne) replacingsomeofthephotos. Walsh N and Entwisle T (eds) (1994) The Flora of For each genus there is a briefdescrip- mVoicntoocroita.ylVeodlon2s..F(eIrnnksataanPdreaslsl:ieMdepllbaontusr,nec)onifersand tion including number ofspecies, distribution, and general information relating to Helen Mill growth form and flowers and leaves. Other 36HeatherGrove notes may refer to taxonomy, response to BriarHill,Victoria3088 Vol. 125 (2)2008 57