Book Review
Orchids of the High Mountain Atlantic Rain Forest in South Eastern Brazil.
A Field and Hobbyist Guide
I don’t recall ever having felt the need or desire to write a review on a book I have read. But
in this instance, I feel I have to make an effort other than pass on a simple recommendation.
Some eighteen years of observation and research in the primaeval forests of the Mata Atlantica by the
authors, David Miller and Richard Warren PhD, and photographer Izabel Moura Miller, has resulted in a
book, which never reaches my bookshelf. If it isn’t beside my armchair, it’s on my
bedside cabinet.
Some 230 species from 56 genera are described
along with details of habitat, and nearly 200 pictures of species plus line drawings of their lips.
So what makes this book so special for me? I think perhaps, the detail of habitat, right down to what
they grow on or in. This book offers detail that no other book does, and has completely changed my way of
thinking in regards, especially towards mounted plants, how I grow them.
By reading the depth of information offered by Miller & Warren on what the plants grow in or on,
in nature, whether the epiphytes, for example, are normally found growing on healthy branches, dead or
decaying branches, I am now refining what I grow my plants on, and in some cases even managing to adjust
this to hopefully suit genera from other continents. The effects of slash and burn and regeneration are discussed, as well as pioneer species in regenerating
forest. This book is a must for all hobbyists and
professionals. If it doesn’t change how you see
your plants, then nothing will. It fills, at least
for me, a huge void, which has existed in orchid
literature for many years, and thankfully, you
don’t need a botanist’s degree to read or
understand it.
I promise you, you will read this book from start
to finish. I believe a second book is underway; I
can’t wait for it to be published.
182 pages, 32 plates of 192 colour photographs.
An Example of the Colour Plates : Example 1 - Plate
30
An Example of the Colour Plates :
Example 2 - Plate 18
Contact info@species-specific.com
to order this book at £19.95 sterling plus £2.60
post & packing to Europe and £4.50 Worldwide.
Richard Warren also organises supervised, 17-day
trips into the Atlantic Coastal Rainforest to
photograph, research and document the orchids in
this, richest orchid area of Brazil.
Copyright
Notice : All Images and Colour Plates in
this Review are Copyright of David Miller, Richard
Warren PhD and Izabel Moura Miller. All
Other Content remains copyright of
species-specific.com. Please seek permission before
reproducing this work.
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