Book excerpt: Orchids are often thought of as rare, fragile "objets d'art," existing only in steamy tropical forests or in the greenhouses of the well-to-do. In fact, orchids occur worldwide from the arctic tundra to Tierra del Fuego. Minnesota is the home of 43 native species of orchids, and Orchids of Minnesota is the only book devoted specifically to their life history and study. Orchids occur in every county in Minnesota and in essentially every terrestrial habitat type. Both a field guide and an illustrated flora of scholarly quality, Orchids of Minnesota includes a section on the biology of orchids (morphology, ecology, and geographical distribution), a key to the orchid genera and species, and a description of each of the state's 43 species. Welby R. Smith offers comprehensive descriptions and information on the specific habitat of each species and interesting facts of its natural history. In addition, the book provides a detailed line drawing and photograph, a North American range map, and a Minnesota county distribution map for each species. Although regional in its focus, Orchids of Minnesota will be of interest to both national and international audiences. The detailed pen-and-ink drawings by Vera Ming Wong are beautifully executed and botanically accurate, revealing that even the most common orchid species are uncommon when compared to other plants.