{"product_id":"the-orchids-natural-history-and-classification","title":"The Orchids: Natural History and Classification","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis lively examination of the structure  classification  evolution  and ecology of the Orchidaceae will appeal to anyone with an eye for beauty or a bent for natural history. It will provide professional biologists and amateur orchidists alike with a deeper understanding--and a thoroughly new classification--of this  the largest flowering family in the plant kingdom. The book is richly illustrated  with 95 color photographs and 99 line drawings emphasizing orchid morphology. But in the context of serious orchidology  aesthetic richness is not a superficial vanity. It is the result of evolutionary processes that demand adaptation and reward diversity  and Dresslers exploration of these mechanisms demonstrates how well the orchids have met the challenge  with over 20 000 species  a geographical range from Sweden to Tierra del Fuego  and  at times  as many as 47 different species on a single tree. But both the orchids success and their profligate beauty are grounded  in part  in their voluptuary nature  and one of Dresslers most engaging themes is the reproductive adaptations  worthy of a Renaissance courtesan  that orchids use to attract  deceive  and manipulate pollinating insects. The orchid family is actively evolving  providing rich possibilities for comparative study. Yet no one  whether professional or amateur  could reasonably proceed without first addressing Robert Dresslers The Orchids. Its new classification alone  including pollination biology  phyletic trends  chromosome counts  and generic relationships  will stand as a watershed contribution to the field.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44954842562613,"sku":"ByrdShop_0674875265","price":90.61,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780674875265.jpg?v=1770395623","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-orchids-natural-history-and-classification","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}