The Cattleyas and Their Relatives: The Debatable Epidendrums Book

In this sequel to his celebrated series of books on the Cattleya alliance of orchids, Carl Withner joins with Patricia Harding to explore "the debatable epidendrums."

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Epidendrum in 1753 to include the mostly epiphytic orchid plants his students and colleagues were sending back to him from tropical America. Over time the genus grew to include more than one thousand species of evergreen epiphytic, lithophytic, or terrestrial orchids. Some of these epidendrums were transferred to other genera, such as Barkeria, Dimerandra, Oerstedella, and especially Encyclia. Others have yet to be divided into natural subgroups, which could be split off into their own genera. A portion of these remaining epidendrums, those with pseudobulbs, are the focus of this volume.

Withner and Harding have collected the available data and organized it to show what we know about these plants and what problems remain to be resolved in determining how and where to classify them. The authors' data comes first from the literature (which often has conflicting reports) and then from first-hand experience in growing the plants. Keys are provided for each subgroup to assist in species identification, and the cultural information gathered should help keep these plants in cultivation. Supplementing the concise plant descriptions are 98 color photos and 68 line drawings.

Despite their controversial nomenclature, the debatable epidendrums are an interesting and often beautiful species, many being relatively easy to cultivate, making them ideal for beginning growers. This volume is certain to be of use to hobbyists, collectors, and growers alike.