William Liltved's opening letter
In November 1989, after returning to Cape Town following
a stay in California, a chance incident triggered my interest in
orchidology. While walking on the Cape Peninsula, I noticed the purple
flowers of Disa purpurascens bobbing above a thick blanket of
fynbos vegetation. In response to a query whether the plant was an orchid,
my walking companion replied—‘I believe it is’. This incident marked the
beginning of a long journey of discovery that would eventually lead to the
production of a regional monograph on the indigenous orchids of Cape
Floristic Region, The Cape Orchids.
A growing fascination with the Cape flora and its orchids motivated me to begin familiarizing myself with their extensive published literature. Realizing that existing publications contained an unsatisfactory illustrative record of many of the Cape orchids, I availed myself to making a comprehensive photographic collection of these plants and to record facets of their fascinating natural history.
This involved many climbing expeditions, some to the more remote and inaccessible parts of the Cape mountain ranges. These expeditions and experiences are recounted throughout the book’s two volumes, forming a chronicle describing the actual events that took place when the various orchid species were observed and studied during a 17 year period, from 1990 to 2007.
In 1993 I began collaborating with my co-author Professor Steven Johnson, who was then completing his Ph.D. dissertation on pollination mechanisms and biology of the Cape orchids. Researching the Cape orchid flora and unraveling its pollination mysteries became ‘a way of life’ for us, providing wonderful opportunities to travel throughout remote and poorly explored parts of the Cape Floristic realm and commune with its breathtaking natural splendour. Together we have made great strides in completing our broad-based natural history book.
Our forthcoming publication, The Cape Orchids, celebrates the life of Dr Harry Bolus (1834–1911), the amateur botanist and artist whose monographs have inspired generations of botanists. Commemorating his meticulous, finely illustrated works on the southern African orchids, the book is imbued with the spirit of botanical history and exploration in southern Africa, combining the classical approaches to botany with the new.
From the time that I began to document the varied and fascinating Cape orchids, I have both admired and been motivated by Bolus’ beautifully illustrated southern African orchid monographs: The Orchids of the Cape Peninsula (1888, 1918) and Orchids of South Africa (Icones Orchidearum Austro-Africanarum extra-tropicarum) volumes 1-3 (1893–1913). These volumes were published at Bolus’ own expense and reproduction of his original coloured drawings was accomplished using hand-painted lithography of a very high quality.
The Cape Orchids—‘a living herbarium’ of photographic images and paintings—encapsulates what is currently known about the classification and ecology of the Cape’s c. 242 representatives of what is considered the world’s largest and most specialized flowering plant family, the orchids. Most Cape orchids remain dormant for long periods, and it is only after their habitat is burnt, sometimes as occasionally as once every 20 years, that they appear fleetingly in bloom. Many of these fire-dependent species are therefore rarely seen in their habitats on the Cape mountains and lowlands. Their natural history, biology and distribution have remained poorly documented.
This lavishly illustrated book forms an important archival record. We have endeavoured to depart from the traditional taxonomic focus of previous works in order to write a book covering a wider field of botanical interest than is usually found in books of this type. The outcome will be a visually spectacular and refined popular work with an up-to-date content. With an emphasis on the history of botanical exploration in the Cape Floristic Region, the book contains considerable historical information and anecdotal material on numerous celebrated botanists and naturalists associated with southern African orchid discovery and research over various eras, from the 17th century to the present.
More than one thousand close-up and in-situ photographs represent the Cape orchids in great detail. Composite photographic plates depicting flowers, seed-capsules, foliage and root-system structure, as well as previously unknown pollinators, reflect the seasonal phases of the various species.
Although the illustrative material contained in The Cape Orchids is primarily photographic, the book is enhanced by an array of historical paintings and exquisite watercolour illustrations by botanical artist Fay Anderson. Tabled below are the botanical authorities who have contributed to the production of the book, some of whom are continuing their involvement during the editorial and review phases of the manuscript.
Natural ecosystems in South Africa are in a perilous state. The book aims to address the crisis by using the biology of orchids as a means to raise awareness about the natural role of fire in fynbos and renosterveld ecology, environmental threats posed through overly frequent burning of habitats, urbanization, poor agricultural practices and alien vegetation infestation. The Cape Floristic Region—a region of remarkable biodiversity—has been declared a World Heritage Site and is also one of the top International Biodiversity Hotspots. Thus, publication of The Cape Orchids will come at an opportune time for global conservation awareness. Although some of the orchids remain common in nature, unrelenting habitat destruction has severely reduced populations of many species, some to the brink of extinction. It is poignant to note that this book probably represents ‘the final look’ at a number of highly endangered or virtually extinct orchid species.
Few other living organisms capture people’s imaginations as orchids do. They hold a particular mystique and inspire extraordinary passion among those who seek to learn more of their ways. We see them as one of the most treasured elements of the Cape flora and we hope this book will be a fitting tribute to their magnificence!
The book is endorsed by the Botanical Society of South Africa.
William Liltved
Cape Town, September 2007
A growing fascination with the Cape flora and its orchids motivated me to begin familiarizing myself with their extensive published literature. Realizing that existing publications contained an unsatisfactory illustrative record of many of the Cape orchids, I availed myself to making a comprehensive photographic collection of these plants and to record facets of their fascinating natural history.
This involved many climbing expeditions, some to the more remote and inaccessible parts of the Cape mountain ranges. These expeditions and experiences are recounted throughout the book’s two volumes, forming a chronicle describing the actual events that took place when the various orchid species were observed and studied during a 17 year period, from 1990 to 2007.
In 1993 I began collaborating with my co-author Professor Steven Johnson, who was then completing his Ph.D. dissertation on pollination mechanisms and biology of the Cape orchids. Researching the Cape orchid flora and unraveling its pollination mysteries became ‘a way of life’ for us, providing wonderful opportunities to travel throughout remote and poorly explored parts of the Cape Floristic realm and commune with its breathtaking natural splendour. Together we have made great strides in completing our broad-based natural history book.
Our forthcoming publication, The Cape Orchids, celebrates the life of Dr Harry Bolus (1834–1911), the amateur botanist and artist whose monographs have inspired generations of botanists. Commemorating his meticulous, finely illustrated works on the southern African orchids, the book is imbued with the spirit of botanical history and exploration in southern Africa, combining the classical approaches to botany with the new.
From the time that I began to document the varied and fascinating Cape orchids, I have both admired and been motivated by Bolus’ beautifully illustrated southern African orchid monographs: The Orchids of the Cape Peninsula (1888, 1918) and Orchids of South Africa (Icones Orchidearum Austro-Africanarum extra-tropicarum) volumes 1-3 (1893–1913). These volumes were published at Bolus’ own expense and reproduction of his original coloured drawings was accomplished using hand-painted lithography of a very high quality.
The Cape Orchids—‘a living herbarium’ of photographic images and paintings—encapsulates what is currently known about the classification and ecology of the Cape’s c. 242 representatives of what is considered the world’s largest and most specialized flowering plant family, the orchids. Most Cape orchids remain dormant for long periods, and it is only after their habitat is burnt, sometimes as occasionally as once every 20 years, that they appear fleetingly in bloom. Many of these fire-dependent species are therefore rarely seen in their habitats on the Cape mountains and lowlands. Their natural history, biology and distribution have remained poorly documented.
This lavishly illustrated book forms an important archival record. We have endeavoured to depart from the traditional taxonomic focus of previous works in order to write a book covering a wider field of botanical interest than is usually found in books of this type. The outcome will be a visually spectacular and refined popular work with an up-to-date content. With an emphasis on the history of botanical exploration in the Cape Floristic Region, the book contains considerable historical information and anecdotal material on numerous celebrated botanists and naturalists associated with southern African orchid discovery and research over various eras, from the 17th century to the present.
More than one thousand close-up and in-situ photographs represent the Cape orchids in great detail. Composite photographic plates depicting flowers, seed-capsules, foliage and root-system structure, as well as previously unknown pollinators, reflect the seasonal phases of the various species.
Although the illustrative material contained in The Cape Orchids is primarily photographic, the book is enhanced by an array of historical paintings and exquisite watercolour illustrations by botanical artist Fay Anderson. Tabled below are the botanical authorities who have contributed to the production of the book, some of whom are continuing their involvement during the editorial and review phases of the manuscript.
Natural ecosystems in South Africa are in a perilous state. The book aims to address the crisis by using the biology of orchids as a means to raise awareness about the natural role of fire in fynbos and renosterveld ecology, environmental threats posed through overly frequent burning of habitats, urbanization, poor agricultural practices and alien vegetation infestation. The Cape Floristic Region—a region of remarkable biodiversity—has been declared a World Heritage Site and is also one of the top International Biodiversity Hotspots. Thus, publication of The Cape Orchids will come at an opportune time for global conservation awareness. Although some of the orchids remain common in nature, unrelenting habitat destruction has severely reduced populations of many species, some to the brink of extinction. It is poignant to note that this book probably represents ‘the final look’ at a number of highly endangered or virtually extinct orchid species.
Few other living organisms capture people’s imaginations as orchids do. They hold a particular mystique and inspire extraordinary passion among those who seek to learn more of their ways. We see them as one of the most treasured elements of the Cape flora and we hope this book will be a fitting tribute to their magnificence!
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The book is endorsed by the Botanical Society of South Africa.
William Liltved
Cape Town, September 2007
