Book excerpt: With full-colour photographs of 300 species, hybrids, varieties and cultivars of orchids, this book is a comprehensive guide to the most common orchid varieties. The orchid family is immensely diverse, and the ingenuity of plant breeders has recently added hundreds more hybrids and cultivars to the growing list of varieties. Improved shipping methods and increased plant availability have made the hobby of growing orchids more popular everywhere. 300 Orchids includes a wide array of species from all continents. The book describes the basic biology of orchids and provides simple instructions on their care. For each orchid there is detailed information on its: Taxonomy Form Distribution Cultivation Habitat Conservation status. Stunning color photographs illustrate the featured orchids, and numerous picture galleries highlight the species most widely available to home gardeners. Forthe increasing number of orchid enthusiasts, 300 Orchids is an easy-to-use and authoritative guide to these fascinating plants. Colour throughout