Orchids and Orchidology in the Antilles. An Encyclopaedic History. 2018. many col. illus. 744 p. 4to. Hardcover. (ISBN 978-3-946583-01-1)

This Encyclopaedic History of Orchids and Orchidology in the Antilles tells the tale of the pioneers and explorers who collected plants in the wilds of little-known parts of the world, of the scientists who classified and named the thousands of new species, the growers and the experimenters who have literally given orchids to the world (R. Northen in Reinikka, 1995: xvii). In short, this is the story of all the individuals and institutions whose lives - and often deaths - were related to the use, commerce, study or conservation of this large and magnificent plant family.

However, the actors of our Caribbean history are of quite different
character compared to many of those who hunted orchids in Central and
South America. The Antilles - with rare exceptions - lack the large,
showy orchids- the magnificent Cattleyas and Odontoglossums, the
spectacular Masdevallias - of which the prestigious European nurseries
could never get enough. They did not waste their time and money sending
their collectors to the Caribbean islands. What we will see then is a
large number of horticulturists and botanists who visited the islands
during the last five centuries, but rarely with material interests.
They came with orders from their Governments to shed light on the
secrets of nature, find plants of economic use, or that would bring
ornament to the King's gardens. This is probably what gives the history
of orchids in the Antilles such a special interest. Plumier collected
for the French Academy and the 'Jardin du Roi', Jacquin for the
Schönbrunn Garden of Francis I, and Olof Swartz apparently collected
for the sheer joy of learning and transmitting his knowledge to the
world. Most of these collectors competed with each other for the fame of
being the better botanist, but money and wealth were not the issue of
the day.