Intriguing Masdevallias
Cool Growing Orchids

John Skillcorn

Author: Jo Kelleher
Publisher: H.G. Hees Publications, Wokingham, England
ISBN: 0-946445-02-8
Price: £6.95

About the Author
It is with the greatest pleasure that I write about "Intriguing Masdevallias" and the author, Jo Kelleher, is an excellent grower and the results of her efforts have often been admired and awarded by the Orchid Committee of The Royal Horticultural Society. Her frequent exhibits at the Society and Orchid Council shows have always been a model of perfection both in culture and presentation. She is a qualified judge of the British Orchid Council and is currently Show Secretary of the Orchid Society of Great Britain.

This book fills a very necessary gap between the scientific
monographs and the often inaccurate information given in the many books available to the grower. It will be read by amateur and professional alike and they will certainly benefit from the lucid
instructions on culture and the detailed observations on the plants
and flowers.

You may experience difficulty in securing some of the species and hybrids described, but do not let this deter you from growing these members of the Pleurothaliidinae. Many, many more species and hybrids exist and most of these are worthy of a place in any cool-house collection. They almost all have an incredible beauty and variety of colour form and shape and a large collection can be housed in a small area.

Mrs. Kelleher must be congratulated on writing a book on a subject for which the orchid world has waited for so long. I am sure that if you carefully follow her instructions you will have as much pleasure in growing these delightful plants as I have had over many years.

ERIC E. YOUNG, V.M.H, St. Helier, Jersey, C-I.

About the illustrator
Best known for his wood engravings and hand-made books, Gerard Brender à Brandis was associated for seven years with the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Canada, as instructor of botanical art. Apart from his work in the studio, he is an amateur grower of orchids, particularly Pleurothallis, and a partner in a nursery for woodland plants.  The plant shown right is Dracula psittacina.

My comments
This is one of my favourite books, especially so as it deals with my favourite group of orchids, Masdevallia.  If you are unfamiliar with these plants, and if you think small is beautiful, then you're in for a treat.  The author has selected a good variety of species which illustrate the family in terms of growth habit and cultural complexity.  Each species is dealt with thoroughly, not just a one-line mention.  Not only that, but those two groups closely related to Masdevallias are also included: Dracula and Dryadella.  The former may seem larger and even more bizarre while the latter produce the daintiest, tiniest flowers among a profusion of greenery.

The photographs are excellent while the line drawings are works of art in their own right.  If this group of plants interests you, you can have no better introduction to their culture.  It forms a good partner to A Masdevallia Cultural Guide, also featured on this Website.

The book is excellent value for money.