PART ONE
The book is divided into two parts. Part One contains 8 chapters. The first two deal with nomenclature and taxonomy. Nomenclature deals with plant names and taxonomy deals with the classification of plants into families, subfamilies, tribes, and subtribes. Within each of these divisions, plants are further divided into genera, and occasionally subgenera, which are then grouped into divisions or sections. Confused? Don't worry, so am I! I'll sum up the contents of these chapters by saying that Dendrobium is one of the plant genera in this subtribe and is one of the largest plant genera in the orchid family since it contains at least 1000 known species. Plant names may be changed from time to time causing much confusion for amateurs and horticulturists. The authors explain why this happens:
...All this means that taxonomy is not an exact science and the differences necessary to separate species cannot be fully or precisely defined. The taxonomist must therefore make a somewhat subjective decision based on knowledge, experience and sound judgment. The more knowledge and the more meaningful experience the taxonomist has, the sounder will be the judgment. Perhaps no one should be allowed to revise a group of plants until they have a few battle scars and grey hairs! [Page 21]
Chapter three discusses the distribution of Dendrobiums. It disappointed me to learn that there are no representatives of this plant genus that are native to the Americas or even Africa. The following chapter, 4, talks about the various uses people have found for these plants. Dendrobium species have been used for decoration of religious buildings, as seasoning, as fiber, and as medicine.
Conservation is a critical issue for many plants and animal species today. The authors provide a discussion of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides a list of species classified as threatened with extinction. There are many orchids in this category. Both these organizations seek to guide governments in the formation of their own laws about endangered species. The issue of conservation should be important to every gardener and botanist. Be sure to read Chapter 5 for a good discussion of conservation issues about Dendrobiums and other orchids. It's definitely food for thought when you are seeking to purchase these plants.
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