Orchids of Africa - SIGNED by Hennessy - 1981 - Hardcover in good condition - Dustcover shows slight wear - Internally clean and tightly bound.
Postage & packaging R55.00
Interest in orchids of Africa is on the increase. Familiar with the colorful and large flowered plants
from America and Asia, growers are now looking to Africa for species that are different, unusual,
new or more demanding to cultivate. Consequently, there is an ever-growing need for information
on these fascinating orchids: this beautiful original book will help to meet that need.
Part I contains a review of the African orchids south of the Sahara, including descriptions of
the kind of plants and flowers, their structure and habits, and the first complete list of the currently
recognized genera. In Part II fifty selected species are illustrated by Esme Hennessy's detailed
paintings in full-color, while Joyce Stewart's text describes them botanically and discusses their origins,
habitat and introduction to cultivation. Chosen to portray some of the diversity of form, color, shape and
size that is found among the African orchids, the species present a display of attractive, unusual and
intriguing plants. The exquisite paintings were taken from life and are mostly
reproduced life-size.
In the words Professor E. A. Shelpe of the Bolus Herbarium, University of Cape Town: "The text
is accurate and eminently readable. The book should be of interest not only to those amateur
botanists interested in orchids, but also to those amongst the international fraternity of orchid
growers who would wish to attempt cultivation of some of the more spectacular flowers or
interesting species."
The author, Joyce Stewart, and the artist, Esme Hennessey, are well known botanists worldwide
and in South Africa, and both hold senior lectureships in botany at the University of Natal and the
University of Durban -- Westville, respectively. They have published many botanical papers and
books and have been invited to lecture at a number of international conferences in their specialized
fields. Mrs. Stewart has lectured as far afield as Germany and Switzerland and has been invited
to talk in Britain on African orchids, while Mrs. Hennessy has visited the United States of
America to talk on South African flora and botanical art. Esme Hennessy's paintings are noted
for their botanical accuracy as well as for their beauty and originality of composition
