THE CATTLEYAS AND THEIR RELATIVES
Volume IV: The Bahamian and Caribbean Species
This is the fourth volume in a landmark series of six books devoted to the genera of the Cattleya alliance. Carl Withner's extensive experience, study, and research give readers access
to an unparalleled range of information about appearance, growth habit, incidence and cultivation of each species as he describes. In addition to his considerable expertise, Dr. Withner brings
clarity, precision, order and enthusiasm to the complexities the genera present. The clear and detailed text is supported by photographs, type illustrations, and diagrams.
Useful both as a botanical and horticultural reference, this is the most complete and up-to-date work on the genera included. It presents information on 67 major and minor species from nine
Caribbean genera: Broughtonia, Cattleyopsis, Domingoa, Encylia, Laeliopsis, Neocogniauxia, Psychilis, Quisqueya, and Tetramicra.With increasing interest in habitat survival
and in the conservation of all species, avid orchid hobbyists increasingly wish to see and know more about these lesser-known taxa. Of special interest in this volume are the first thorough
information on Tetramicra and the first-ever drawing of Encyclia angustifolia, an extremely rare species first collected in Jamaica 1788 but never before photographed or drawn
for publication. The general run of taxa in this volume is not to be found in ordinary orchid books and will be of great interest to enthusiasts.
Writing in the American Orchid Society Bulletin, Rebecca Northern said of the first volume: "This is a book for all time. It and the five volumes to follow will form a grand addition
to orchid libraries... (a) source of information for years to come." Withner's next volumes will include discussions of Mesoamerican and the remaining South American species. All those
interested in the cattleyas and their relatives, from botanist to the professional grower to the hobbyist, will find Dr. Withner's work an invaluable resource.
