A Masdevallia Cultural Guide

John Skillcorn

Author: William Ames Rhodehamel
Publisher: William Ames Rhodehamel, 
8440 West 82nd Street, 
Indianapolis, 
Indiana 46278 
USA
ISBN: No record
Price: $23US (but difficult to obtain - try http://www.orchidaceousbooks.com.au/OB12084.html )

This American book is published by the author and contains a wealth of information about this group of orchids.  A look at the front cover (left) will give the clue that this is a no-nonsense type of book.  It contains no pretty, colourful pictures but the line drawings by Carlyle Luer help to lighten the extremely detailed text somewhat.

The book attempts to list every known species of Masdevallia, together with any known synonyms.  Whether this list is currently up to date I cannot say.  Certainly since the first edition of the book in 1988 and up to January 1996 when my copy was printed, fifty new species had been described and added to the text.  This will show how little is known about the full extent of this genus of orchids.  The Masdevallias and their relatives are undergoing constant revision, so things are still not static.

The book itself is a thorough guide to Masdevallia orchids.  Everything is covered, from cultural guides (growing space, light, temperature, humidity, potting, watering and fertilising) to propagation and hybridisation.  Finally, Chapter 10 deals with the topic of pests and diseases.

I can recommend this book to anyone interested in Masdevallia orchids.  In fact, it is essential reading.  It is an excellent partner volume to Intriguing Masdevallias, also featured on this Website.