Out of the many books I read each month about gardening, a book really grabs my attention due to the quality of its writing, organization of the information presented, and the usefulness of its sketches and photographs. The World of Catasetums is one of those rare books for me. Let me explain why.
First, the author doesn't assume that all readers are orchid specialists. He makes a practice of defining technical words by including an explanation of their meaning in parentheses. This means I don't have to go searching for a glossary although an excellent one is found in the back of the book. I loved his chapter about the "Popularity of Catasetums". It provides several reasons why plant lovers are so attracted to this genus of orchids. The next chapter talks about the history, including how the plant acquired its genus name. I enjoy reading about the men who first locate and identify plants and then bring them into general cultivation.
For me, the key chapter to the book is 3, which discusses "General Characteristics of Catasetums". In other words, this chapter explains what makes a plant a Catasetum rather than another type of orchid plant. Each part of the plant is thoroughly discussed. Black and white photographs illustrate the various topics.
Chapter 4 talks about the "Miracle of Pollination". This is fascinating since orchids use different tactics to attract pollinators, and force the critter to actually carry pollen from one plant to the next. Orchids are said to be our most complicated plants when it comes to pollination.
The next three chapters (5, 6, 7) are essential reading if someone is to succeed in growing Catasetums. The author spends a great deal of time discussing environmental factors and the growth cycle of Catasetums. He makes it clear that it is important to understand which ecological zone a plant grows in so we can provide appropriate care for it in our homes and greenhouses. Then he provides a clear discussion of the growth cycle of Catasetums so new growers won't be startled when the plant loses its leaves and goes into a dormancy period. Finally, in the author begins talking about the culture of these plants, including different potting media, types of containers, the mechanics of the potting process, and other basics. Again, the author illustrates the information provided with black and white pictures.
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