Orchids of Australia

More than 80% of Australia's lavishly abundant species of native orchids are found nowhere else in the world. With their delicate beauty, often brilliant colors, bizarre shapes, and wondrous biological relationships, they have attracted a dedicated following of passionate devotees. This magnificently illustrated, up-to-date, and authoritative book covers 150 of the most well known and widespread species as well as many that are extremely rare or were only recently described. These include both terrestrial and arboreal orchids from all parts of this fascinating continent.


John Riley's drawings are not only beautiful but masterpieces of meticulous accuracy: all are anatomically exact, representing the finest collection of illustrations of this flora published to date. The concise text, by David Banks with contributions from Riley, complements the drawings with precise, pertinent information.


Each species description consists of a full page of color illustrations of all key parts with a page of text opposite. The orchid genera are arranged alphabetically and, where appropriate, separated into informal groupings. Within each genus, the species appear in chronological order of their scientific description. Closely related taxonomic groups are therefore presented together, for easier comparison.



Orchids of Australia will become a benchmark among the burgeoning numbers of orchid lovers, growers, and specialists worldwide, combining the most up-to-date nomenclatural treatment of Australia's indigenous orchids with superb, highly detailed, full-color illustrations.



John J. Riley, who worked for many years as a sheep shearer in his native Australia, is one of the country's most accomplished botanical artists. He has been researching and drawing the country's orchids in the field for more than twenty years. In 1992 he was awarded a fellowship by the Australian Institute of History and the Arts in recognition of his botanical illustrations and his celebrated carvings on emu eggs. David P. Banks is the editor of the Australian Orchid Review and former editor of The Orchadian. Author of Tropical Orchids of Southeast Asiaand Growing Orchids, he is a popular lecturer both in Australia and abroad on orchids and their cultivation.

• The most beautifully illustrated, up-to-date book on some of the finest of Australia's abounding native orchids


• Strikingly detailed and accurate, full-color drawings of 150 species, from the most well known and widespread to the rare and recently described


• Each orchid described by a page of illustrations


• Text on facing page provides succinct information on range, etymology, flowering time, habitat, conservation status, and distinctive features


• Closely related taxonomic groups presented together for easier comparison


• Genera arranged alphabetically and species within each genus ordered chronologically by date of scientific description


• Range map for each species

"Vast in scope and amazing in detail, this comprehensive guide highlights a different type of orchid on each pair of beautifully designed pages. . . . Banks' and Riley's passion for the native orchids of Australia has clearly resulted in one of today's finest contemporary orchid books. Well written and wonderfully illustrated, Orchids of Australia is one of the most interesting and beautiful guides available." (The Botanical Artist)