From the swamps, ponds, bogs, and meadows of East Texas to the canyons of the Edwards Plateaus and the mountains of the Trans-Pecos, Texas hosts a surprising number of native orchids -- 52 species and two varieties. Though smaller and less conspicuous than many tropical species, the wild orchids of Texas have an exquisite beauty that endears them to everyone from wildflower professional botanists and conservationists.

This beautifully illustrated book presents all 54 wild orchids of Texas. Joe Liggio has spent nearly twenty years finding and photographing Texas' orchids. The species descriptions that accompany his lovely color photos discuss the plant's flowers, blooming season, pollinators, typical habitats, and range (also shown by map), including its distribution within and beyond Texas. The species are grouped by genus, with a general introduction to each, and are also listed by color, county, and habitat for easy reference.

In addition to the species accounts, the authors offer a general natural history of Texas orchids that discusses such topics as pollination and reproduction, special growing requirements, and threats to orchids from loss of habitats and careless collecting. They also describe the many orchid habitats in Texas and the species that grow in each. This wide variety of information, which has never before been collected in one volume for a general readership, makes this book the essential guide to Texas's wild orchids.