The rich and often bizarre variety of form exhibited by orchids has long provided a fascination for amateur and professional botanists alike. This book fulfils the need for an accurate and simple guide to the identification of species which can be cultivated. The main part of the book is based on the text of the family Orchidaceae published in the second volume of The European Garden Flora, with the information fully updated and displayed in a revised format. Simple keys to the genera and to the species allow access to descriptions of 900 individual species which also include references to published illustrations and other useful information. A brief introduction covers the structural features of orchids important in identification, and gives some information on cultivation and a list of general references.