Orchid

A wide-ranging natural and cultural history of orchids.

Approximately eight percent of all the Earth’s flowering species are orchids. Known for their beautiful flowers, delicate forms, and sweet fragrances, orchids are unlike any other flower. Orchids have been contemplated by philosophers, celebrated by artists, and cultivated or even eaten by millions. They occupy our thoughts, stories, greenhouses, supermarkets, and homes. Orchid surveys all of this and more as Dan Torre explores the intriguing and multifaceted natural and cultural history of orchids.

Dan Torre is a senior lecturer of design at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. His books include Cactus and Carnivorous Plants, also published by Reaktion Books.