Field Guide to Ethiopian Orchids
By Sebsebe Demissew, Phillip Cribb & Finn Rasmussen – (2004)
300 pages; matt art paper, with 156 colour photographs, 19 monochrome illustrated plates, 4 main maps & 2 tables.
Soft Cover: 21.5m x 12.7cm.
ISBN: 1 84246 071 4
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Richmond, Surrey, UK.
Little is known about the wild orchids of Ethiopia and Eritrea as they are very poorly represented in museum and botanical collections. This small book is a preliminary account based on the herbarium material available and limited field work, with the authors simultaneously pointing out there is still much we do not know about the Orchidaceae of this area.
A total of 37 genera and 167 species are recognized by the authors. The bulk of these (84%) are terrestrials. Each genus has its author (no publication details) and generic description with approximate number of species and distribution. Large genera are divided into sections with keys to the sections, then keys to the species of each section. Each species has its author, meaning behind the species epithet, a detailed description, notes on habitat, distribution, flowering period, conservation status and any miscellaneous notes. Most species also have a small map with an area shaded dark green indicating distribution within Ethiopia and Eritrea. Most species are also illustrated to some degree either with a colour photo and or a monochrome drawing some however may just be of the lip shape.
There are many wonderful photographs in here, some of them outstanding. However, many of the photos are reproduced at a small size and there are also a few that are out of focus and of low quality (i.e. shot at small pixel size) and for some reason the design and layout department have blown some of these up to full page. Which can only be viewed as a poor choice, when there are numerous others that have been reproduced at a small size that are obviously overall much better photos not just in quality but also the aesthetics of the shot itself. This however, cannot be seen as a reflection of the authors and does not detract from the scientific content of this work.
This is the only treatment so far (other than within the ‘Flora of Ethiopia’) of Ethiopia’s orchids and so essential for anyone studying or interested in the African Orchidaceae. It is a very handy and informative guide and its compact size and light weight makes it a great companion for anyone travelling to that part of the world and easy to carry and use in the field.
Rod Rice
Principal Reviewer
Nature & Travel Books