Library Corner

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Library List

There is a library book and tape list available at the library table. We will try to have copies to take at the hospitality table as well. This list is not indexed by topic; if you want to see what is available on Phalaenopsis, start at the top and keep going. We are exploring ways to create a true catalogue without spending much money.

New Acquisitions

"The American Orchid Society Celebrates its Diamond Jubilee" This anonymous gift is a slender history of the AOS, with lots of photographs of people and events significant to its development. Thanks to our benefactor for this book. "Orchid Genera Illustrated", by Tom and Marion Sheehan; 1985. This is a gift of Neal Foster. See the review below. Thanks, Neal.

Book Review

"Orchid Genera Illustrated", by Tom and Marion Sheehan, is a lovely book from Timber Press. It begins with orchid definitions and classifications, with pen-and-ink drawings to illustrate the text. It ends with an illustrated glossary. The body of the book covers about one hundred orchid genera. Each genera is described with identifying characteristics, cultural guidelines, and a map showing where it grows. In some of the genera, there is a table of main species, giving the flowering season and general locale.

Each genus is demonstrated in a color plate of one typical species. The plate has about a dozen illustrations of successively greater detail -- plant in flower; inflorescence; flower, face view; flower, side view; lip; flower, vertical section; column, ventral view; column, end view; column, side view; column, vertical section; pollinia. All this description doesn't do justice to Marion Sheehan's artistry. These are beautiful paintings.

If you need detailed cultural information or description for some particular Dendrobium species, you will a book with a deeper, and probably narrower, approach. This book takes a very broad approach, covering many orchid genera, but has enough detail to be interesting and informative for most of us. In addition, it is beautiful enough to be a coffee-table book (and perhaps a wish-list).

Other Library News

If you have suggestions for library acquisitions or procedures, please let us know. The best way is to send e-mail to Don Fishel (fishel@bauerctl.com) or to slip a note to one of the librarians at a meeting. If you just tell one of us, we will probably forget, especially if we're working the library table at the time.

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~ Don Fishel, Head Librarian
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