Focusing on orchids, this is one of a series in which each book is devoted to the enjoyment and cultivation of a specific flowering plant and presented in three sections - history, flower directory, and care and cultivation. The extraordinary forms of the orchid's waxy petals have intrigued collectors and breeders since the plants were introduced from the tropics in the 17th century, and the obsession with collecting them has achieved such proportions that many species are now endangered. The book offers an insight into the rise in popularity of the orchid and singles out some of the best-loved genera and species from the huge range available. They include both tropical-air plants that need hot-house conditions, and hardy native forms that can be grown in the garden.