The Orchid in Lore and Legend

by Luigi Berliocchi

The orchid is the most evocative of flowers, inspiring in some of its admirers a fanaticism akin to madness, as demonstrated in Susan Orlean's popular novel The Orchid Thief . This elegant survey of the orchid treats its place in legend and suggests the impact that these exotic plants had on the temperate European mind. Berliocchi chronicles the adventurers and scientists who introduced these marvels, discusses their place in the arts from literature and magic to cuisine, and concludes with accounts of the most important genera and their cultivation. Splendidly illustrated with period engravings and botanical paintings, it is literate and delightful.

This book is only available through print on demand. All interior art is black and white.

Genres: Gardening, Nature, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting accounts. Seriously flawed by lack of footnotes and any documentation that would point to primary sources.

[Patricia Woodruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book suffers from the lack of larger colored pictures, but the writing is top notch! Not only factual and very interesting but with a really wonderful sense of quirky humor that delighted me. Such as magical lore about orchids in Papua New Guinea, which Berliocchi writes, "There, baby girls are wrapped in the leaves of a local species of orchid to encourage the strength, health, and capacity for drudgery without which it is impossible to find a husband." His play on words is just delightful!

[Dyan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Compact, and full of interesting info. But awfully written. Somehow the author has managed to both romanticise AND sexually orchids. It was disturbing.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lore and legend was impressively wide-ranging and offered with grace and wit. Condensing this kind of range into a small space makes this book hard to sit down to for a sustained read, but a good book for dipping into for about five minutes at a time.

[Erica]

It's hard to rate this book. On the one hand, it's incredibly inspiring in a creative sense--it contains a lot of ideas about orchids in history and myth. But on the other, it is pitifully cited. It will be very difficult to verify if most of what Berliocchi writes is true. The short bios of major plantsmen, patrons, and botanists are good, as well as the arts & customs section. The book was enjoyable, and I think in the end it will remain a good resource.