An in-depth look at India's 1,200 species of orchids. The Indian subcontinent--rightfully renowned for its ecological lushness--is home to more than 1,200 species of orchids, about a quarter of which can be found nowhere else on the planet. Fortunately, the Missouri Botanical Garden Press's new book enumerates and carefully classifies each one, following the latest insights from molecular phylogenetic studies. A Checklist of the Orchidaceae of India features typification, synonymy, distribution, habit, and conservation, as well as a key to the identification of orchid genera. The book is part of the Checklist of Indian Plants, a major collaborative project spearheaded by Peter H. Raven of the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, and the Harvard University Herbaria.

Orchids have fascinated people ever since their discovery by Father of Botany . Theophrastus (370-385 B.C.). They are much loved but little studied as they are the largest, most complex and difficult group with nearest estimate range between 25,000 to 35,000 species in over 800 genera. Majority of orchids known in cultivation are, however, natives of tropical forests of Indian Subcontinent (mainly from India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia). The Indian Bulbophyllum, Cymbidium, Dendrobiums, Paphiopedilums, Vandas, etc. contributing to develop high quality hybrids. Indian subcontinent is considered primary/secondary center of origin for Orchids found in phytogeographically interesting North Eastern region. The region one of the hot-spots of the world is the richest Biodiversity center of the Indian subcontinent. The authors have made an earnest attempt on most deserving topic. Bulbophyllum is one of the important orchid genera represented by a number of species in this region. This polymorphic and difficult taxa from taxonomic point of view was treated differently by different workers as the taxa are linked with each other in such a way that separation into smaller groups was difficult due to complexities in the group. The book nicely provides the present Status and Biodiversity of Bulbophyllum and allied genera of India, in general and Northeast in particular with keys to these genera, sections and species that were previously included under Bulbophyllum. This is the first consolidated, revisionary taxonomic account on Indian Bulbophyllum and allied genera. A total of 80 species of Bulbophyllum and allied genera are included in this book. The account is supported by 15 illustrations, 37 plates, and 28 tables. Table 1-28 cover monthly average temperature (maximum and minimum), rainfall, relative humidity (morning-evening), detail vegetative and reproductive phenophase data, phenological calendar etc. The book is also primarily intended for the categorization of the genus Bulbophyllum taking the characters of pollinia, seeds and karyotype studies. Chapter 1: General Introduction, Chapter 2: Biodiversity of Bulbophyllum, Chapter 3: Phenology, Chapter 4: Palynology, Chapter 5: Seed Morphometry, Chapter 6: Cytology, Chapter 7: General Conclusion.

Orchids account for a large share of global floriculture trade both as cut flowers and as potted plants, and are estimated to comprise around 10% of international fresh cut flower trade. The average value of fresh cut orchids and buds trade during 2007-2012 was US$ 483 million. In 2012, there are more than 40 countries exporting orchids and 60 countries importing orchids around the world, with the total size of the global trade equaling US$ 504 million. In India, about 1350 species belonging to 186 genera represent approximately 5.98% of the world orchid flora and 6.83% of the flowering plants in India. The publication on “Commercial Orchids” is presented in 15 interesting chapters vividly highlighting the global orchid industry, bio-diversity, conservation and bio-piracy of genetic resources, morphological and molecular characterization of valuable species, breeding approaches for improved genotypes, production of quality planting materials, physiology of tropical and temperate orchids, climate change and its impact on orchid productivity, production technology of commercial epiphytic orchids for cut flower, production technology of commercial terrestrial orchids for cut flower, orchids for pot culture, hanging baskets and tree mounting, medicinal and aromatic orchids, post-harvest management of cut flowers of commercial orchids, value addition and marketing.