A luxuriant gift book for all orchid fans.   Orchids are one of the largest families of plants, comprising an estimated 28,000 species that flourish on every continent and major landmass except Antarctica. They are also one of the most cherished and coveted plant groups, which makes this addition to Kew’s Pocketbook series a welcome treat for flower fanatics. Kew Pocketbooks: Orchids offers a snapshot into the colorful and diverse world of orchids, beautifully illustrated with forty color paintings from the archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew—one of the most extensive collections of botanical art in the world. An introductory chapter by Kew orchid expert Michael F. Fay provides an overview of the plant group, and extended captions accompany each painting.