Product Description

This is the first book devoted solely to bulbophyllums, a very diverse group of orchids comprising the largest genus in the orchid family; it is an introductory guide for amateur and advanced orchid growers. The author focuses on those species likely to be cultivated, including 375 Bulbophyllum species and 170 related species and hybrids; she gives practical suggestions on how best to grow each plant in cultivation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #913925 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 296 pages

From Booklist
Gardeners who grow orchids may be unfamiliar with bulbophyllums--an extensive genus of epiphytes included in the orchid family; or in many cases they might simply be uninformed. Often perceived as having undesirable form and insignificant flowers, bulbophyllums actually comprise hundreds of appealing plants that deserve to be nurtured alongside more popular specimens. Siegerist sets the record straight with a rigorous survey of bulbophyllum species and hybrids, steering orchid growers away from plants that give off unpleasant scents--another reason for their bad reputation! Siegerist's fascination with the great diversity of these orchids combines with a keen awareness of each plant's endemic growing conditions and cultural requirements, resulting in engagingly written entries that should arouse the curiosity of orchid lovers while providing sensible guidance aimed at helping gardeners choose plants suited both to their ideals and to their practical requirements. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"As the first book devoted to this group of orchids and because of its diversity in habitat, floral structure, widespread geographic distribution, and other striking characteristics, this book is highly recommended."— Choice, November 2001 (Choice )

"Emily Siegerist has written the first user-friendly guide to the genus and its close relatives ... There are some 77 color plates with very high quality photographs and this of itself makes the book an attractive acquisition."—Harold Koopowitz, Orchid Digest, Spring 2002 (Harold Koopowitz Orchid Digest )

"Well suited for a botanical reference library, an orchid judge, or the hobby grower ... The growing recommendations are excellent."—Elizabeth A. DeNiro, Hobby Greenhouse, Winter 2003 (Elizabeth A. DeNiro Hobby Greenhouse )

As the first book devoted to this group of orchids and because of its diversity in habitat, floral structure, widespread geographic distribution, and other striking characteristics, this book is highly recommended. Choice, November 2001 (Choice )

Emily Siegerist has written the first user-friendly guide to the genus and its close relatives ... There are some 77 color plates with very high quality photographs and this of itself makes the book an attractive acquisition.Harold Koopowitz, Orchid Digest, Spring 2002 (Orchid Digest )

Well suited for a botanical reference library, an orchid judge, or the hobby grower ... The growing recommendations are excellent.Elizabeth A. DeNiro, Hobby Greenhouse, Winter 2003 (Hobby Greenhouse )

From the Back Cover
Bulbophyllum is a very large genus in the orchid family, native to tropical areas, and found on all continents except Antarctica. It is a very diverse group of orchids, but all are epiphytes with creeping rhizomes, and the inflorescence always rises from the base of the pseudobulb, never from its sides or top. Flowers vary widely from species to species. Some have no fragrance, others a pleasant one, and still others are quite malodorous. Many are miniatures, and many are exceptionally attractive.

Many orchid growers have heard of the genus, but do not grow it because they know only of a few foul-smelling, rambling plants with small flowers. However, bulbophyllums can be very attractive additions to any orchid collection thanks to their unusual form, flowers, and color combinations.

Bulbophyllums and Their Allies, the first book devoted solely to this genus of 2,700 published species, is an introductory guide for amateur and advanced orchid growers. Emily S. Siegerist focuses on those species likely to be cultivated, including 375 Bulbophyllum species and 170 related species and hybrids. Her goal is "to give you enough information to have a good chance of success with most bulbophyllums and, after a bit of experience, enough knowledge to know which species to avoid." For each described plant, the author gives practical suggestions on how best to grow that plant in cultivation.

Customer Reviews

Excellent, but nonetheless disappointing
I wasn't quite sure how to rate it, and decided to give it the benefit of the doubt, as it were. I'd be tempted to give it a 3.5 because while it's very good, it's faults are rather glaring, IMO.

Coverage of species is, overall, far better than any work I know of (and certainly better than anything easily available), but there are relatively few pictures, and not a single line drawing for any of the species not pictured -- out of 550 species and hybrids mentioned, there are only 77 photos! I don't know whether that was Ms. Siegerist's doing or Timber Press cutting back on production costs, but it's a glaring gap.

I've been waiting for this book for months, and while I'm not sorry I bought it and will refer to it often, I was expecting more.

Could be a lot better...
The pictures are nice. On the other hand, relatively few of the plants are pictured, and the descriptions are often too general. There's usually some detail, such as petal length, etc., but few of the flowers are described in a manner that would allow you to know what it looks like.
Some of the cultural information includes a prescription to use "nice media" or other not-so-useful text.
Most of the descriptions are accompanied by some elevation information, or at least temperature guidelines, and watering information.
I think this book is best used if you have a plant in mind, have a pretty good idea of what the flower looks like, and want to find out if you have a good chance at making it happy. Since the book isn't all that expensive, this and the pictures probably provide enough value to warrant a purchase. If the descriptions were better, this book would be a must-have.

Sorry , Only Few Picture
If you want this book as a reference to your bulbophyllum collection, Yes it's. Many species described. But if you want to know how the bulbophyllum looks like, sorry it is not an answer to your inquiry. Very few pictures.