Queen of the night, Darwin's comet, lady's slipper, little dragon, black chimaera - the otherworldly names of orchid species are as beautiful as these sought-after flowers themselves.

From flamboyant and colorful to strange and understated, and from alpine meadows to cloud forests, the orchid's variety and range are unparalleled - and have made it an object of obsession for plant collectors for centuries.

With over 250 stunning botanical illustrations and fascinating documents from the archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The Orchid explores 40 different varieties of this evocative and elusive flower.

Pages: 256, Year of Publication: 0224, Dimensions: 18.8x18.8cm