Review

Three years after publication of volume 2, which was entirely devoted to Bulbophyllum (by J.J. Vermeulen), volume 1 of what should become a complete iconography of the Orchids of Borneo has appeared. Each volume is projected to contain a hundred species, which means that eventually fifteen volumes will line up on our shelves. If the pace of production is not increased, most of us will be retired or dead by then. I really hope to live to see the completion of this series, because it is magnificent! It invites comparison with the legendary series ‘Venezuelan Orchids Illustrated’ by Dunsterville & Garay, both in format and in the quality of the illustrations. The text is much better, however, giving not only descriptions, but also elaborate notes on habitat and ecology, distribution, etymology and miscellaneous topics. This first volume starts with general chapters in which, apart from the inevitable introduction to the orchid family, a useful survey is given of the various habitats in Borneo with their characteristic orchid species. It is a pity that there are no illustrations of at least some of these habitats here, but one can find several in volume 2. No reference is made to them in the present volume, however.