Beautiful, intriguing and exotic, orchids have evolved to become the largest family of plants in the world. This guide has a round-the-world tour of the range of tropical and temperate habitats in which orchids are found, as well as an explanation of the main orchid types, including epiphytes, terrestrials and lithophytes. The orchid directory looks in detail at a wide range of orchid species and hybrids, providing information on their natural habitat, size, flowering time and growing requirements. All the main genera are covered, from Cymbidium to Dendrobium, and from Phalaenopsis to Phragmipedium, as well as a selection of rare orchids. Also included is an extensive selection of Suppliers, listing the best nurseries for developing an orchid collection.