African, Propagation 

Africa has fewer orchid species than the other tropical continents, some 1550 species in 99 genera. Most African epiphytes do not have bright colors or large flowers, yet possess a subtle beauty; the terrestrial orchids, on the other hand, include some of the most beautiful and vividly colored species in the world.

This book covers the orchids of the sub-Saharan Africa, excluding Madagascar and other Indian Ocean islands, but including the islands off the west coast of the continent. The Orchids found in this area are distinctly different from the European-related orchid species found in North Africa.

The first quarter of the book encompasses general chapters on climate, geography, culture, propagation, and hybridization. The larger second section consists of a detailed encyclopedic listing of all African orchids meeting the above criteria, with descriptions, and useful notes on cultivation. There is also an appendix on African orchid genera not in cultivation. The color photographs were taken in the field by Eric La Croix.