Eric A. Christenson. Phalaenopsis: A Monograph. Timber Press. 2001.

Phalaenopsis were first introduced to Europeans early in the 1800s. They were considered curiosities, according to Chapter 1: History, until techniques for propagating these plants were developed in the 20th century. After World War II, these new techniques brought the price of orchids within the range of the general hobbyist. Christenson presents a timeline of events relating to this genus beginning with its first discovery and naming by Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist and ending with the taxonomy revision of the genus presented in this monograph. I was surprised to learn that very little is known about the natural habitats of Phalaenopsis. The little information available about their ecology and distribution is presented in Chapter 2.

Morphology of Phalaenopsis is described in Chapter 3. Here you will find detailed descriptions of the overall plant. The author spends time describing the different types of roots these plants have. Then he proceeds to discuss leaves, inflorescences (flower stalk), flowers, and fruits (seed pods) in equal detail. He ends this chapter by discussing chromosome counts. The next chapter, 4, presents Christenson's taxonomy of Phalaenopsis species. He also explains why his scheme differs from earlier researchers. Frankly, this chapter went way beyond my capacity to understand the details presented. However, botanists and taxonomists will find the information valuable.

Each of the subgenera and sections are discussed in Chapters 5 through 9. Within these chapters you will find a description for each of the known Phalaenopsis species. Each description includes information on who named the species, the date it was discovered, and where the name was first published. Very detailed descriptions of leaves, inflorescences, and flowers are given. Distribution information is also provided. Either the professional botanist or the avid hobbyist can understand these chapters.

The information presented on cultivation (Chapter 10) is outstanding. In fact, it is one of the better chapters on this topic I've read. The author presents the advantages and disadvantages of pots and the various potting media components. His writing style is easily understood by the hobbyist. Reading the following sample would enable anyone to understand exactly how to distinguish between live and dead roots.

It is standard practice to remove dead leaves and roots when repotting a mature plant. Functional phalaenopsis roots are firm, dead roots are hollow. The easiest way to distinguish the two is to grab a root between two fingers and gently tug on it. A live root will not yield, while a dead will strip off with ease, leaving behind a wiry central core.

The final three chapters, 11-13 are arranged in an awkward sequence. Chapter 11 covers conservation, Chapter 12 talks about hybrids and Chapter 13 discusses the future of this plant genus. I believe chapter 12 should precede chapter 11, which addresses both natural species and hybrids. Each of the topics is covered in substantial detail. Perhaps another reader will grasp something I am missing that explains the choice of topic order in these particular chapters. A bibliography of all available publications on Phalaenopsis is included and will be of exceptional value for future researchers.

Illustrations are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the text. Full color photographs of various Phalaenopsis species are located in the center of this book. Both the illustrations and photographs are of outstanding quality.

Who Should Buy This Book?

Do you own just one unidentified Phalaenopsis bought at a local chain store? You'll be better satisfied with a more general book about orchid care. Have you moved to the stage of wanting the complete scientific name for each of your Phalaenopsis? This book is written for you!