Ideal for the casual or dedicated orchid enthusiast

"Clear and concise text, easy-to-use keys, breathtaking photography, exquisite line drawings, and easily tucked into your backpack! What more could one ask of this nifty field guide?"--Helen Jeude, Botanical Research Institute of Texas

"An outstanding addition to previous similar works by the same author-artist team. However, this work and the others are much more than mere 'field guides'! They clarify and update information regarding the orchid flora of the United States, and for the orchid hobbyist-hunter, the 'where-to-look-for-orchids' portion alone may be worth more than the price of the book."--Dr. Robert J. Ferry, McAllen (Texas) International Orchid Society

Though many may not realize it, Texas is home to some of the rarest orchid species in the world. From the Big Thicket to the Big Bend, from the Panhandle to the coastal plain, Field Guide to the Wild Orchids of Texas is the first native orchid field guide to cover each of the Lone Star State's eco-regions.

This valuable and comprehensive resource for the orchid taxonomist, dedicated enthusiast, or casual hiker and lover of the outdoors covers more than 50 species and orchid varieties, several of which are new to Texas and, in some cases, even brand-new to the orchid world. It also includes numerous color and growth forms.

This handy guide includes all the essential tools--field photographs, diagnostic line drawings, and useful reference keys--to quickly and easily identify an orchid discovered in the wild. A checklist of the state's wild orchids and charts listing optimal flowering times and distribution by region make this guide user-friendly year-round. In addition to the many insider orchid-hunting tips, botanist Paul Martin Brown recommends trip itineraries offering the fullest viewing of native orchids at their peak seasons.

Paul Martin Brown is a research associate at the University of Florida Herbarium, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, and at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. Stan Folsom is a watercolorist, botanical illustrator, and collaborator with Brown on each of their regional orchid guidebooks.

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For both experienced and novice seekers of the wild orchid in its natural habitat, spotting and identifying the plant becomes much simpler with the aid of this field guide. Even first time venturers into the field should experience enough success and excitement to become avid enthusiasts.
--Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas

" Thorough and well researched, this should prove a valuable resource for botany lovers already tuned in to the existence of these North American beauties, but it is also accessible enough to provide effective support for neophytes,"
--The Bloomsbury Review

" Easy-to-use, informative, well-researched, field reference. Valuable for libraries desiring geographic coverage of the wild orchids in various regions of North America. Highly Recommended."
--Choice

"Enthusiasts will find this book handy as a guide to identifying native Texas orchids."
--Bulletin