A celebration of the world's most fascinating flower, Ultimate Orchid presents these magical and extraordinary plants in all their splendour and diversity.

Desired by man since Ancient times, orchids inspire plant-hunters to travel the world in search of new varieties. Reaching a peak of popularity during Victoria's reign, their appeal has outlasted fashion and they are one of the most popular flowering pot plants sold today. With a reputation for being difficult, which in many cases is untrue, they tend to be admired by the general public from afar. But a closer inspection will reveal the beauty and variety of this genus, from frilly cattleyas to pansy-like miltonias, the evil-looking paphiopedilums to the dainty onciciums. This range of flower types and colours have been taken advantage of by the plant breeders and a plethora of cultivars are now mass-produced for public consumption. This fully illustrated DK guide lives up to the DK reputation of attractive presentation and fabulous photographs. Even a quick flick through the pages will capture the uninitiated orchid-lover and possibly spark a lifelong interest. Whilst lacking in cultivation details for each particular species, it is nevertheless an informative overview of orchids - their history, variety, care and future. - Lucy Watson

Thomas J. Sheehan is a faculty member at the University of Florida and has written or coauthored over 350 scientific and popular articles on ornamental horticulture. He is an honorary vice-president of the American Orchid Society, a recipient of the Society's Gold Medal of Achievement and is active in a number of international orchid-related organisations

Orchids in history; what is an orchid?; orchid classification; variability; paphiopedilum alliance; cymbidium; oncidium alliance; cattleya alliance; pleurothallids; dendrobium; vanda alliance; phalaenopsis alliance; botanicals; conservation; media and potting; propagation and basic care; where to grow orhids; pests and diseases; orchid shows and awards; collectables.