Orchid Species of the World is an epic illustrated encyclopedia of global wild native orchids from the Old and New Worlds, including temperate and tropical areas and both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This is the most complete, comprehensive and up-to-date illustrated guide ever published on these cosmopolitan, specialised and iconic flowering plants, and it is presented in a single colourful, authoritative and information-packed volume. Never before has such a variety and quantity of terrestrial, lithophytic and epiphytic orchids been presented together. Introductory chapters cover the basics about orchids and their biology, naming and cultivation. This is followed by a summary of the characters defining the 343 different genera featured, with succinct and precise text about the 3,333 individually described and illustrated species entries. Details also include countries of origin, defining identification characters, cultivation tips and seasonal flowering times. The most current botanical combinations have been included and applied on a case-by-case basis, keeping similar natural groups together, after the author has personally studied these orchids and reviewed the latest published taxonomic proposals and DNA-based scientific research, with more than 2,450 synonyms and alternate names included.