New orchid book launched
KOTA KINABALU: The second edition of Slipper Orchids of Borneo by distinguished British orchid specialist Dr Phillip Cribb, formerly Deputy Keeper of the Herbarium and Curator of the Orchid Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, was launched in an informal ceremony in the Orchid Library of the Herbarium recently.
Slipper orchids of the genus Paphiopedilum are some of the most prized of all known orchids and Kinabalu Park, Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site, is home to seven of the 19 species known to occur on the island of Borneo.
The recent tragic earthquake which claimed 18 lives on the mountain caused massive landslides and ecological disaster and conservationists are greatly concerned that localities where Paphiopedilum occur may be irretrievably destroyed, according to Dr Cribb, who is also a member of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Orchid Committee, the International Orchid Commission and an immediate past chair of the Orchid Specialist Group SSC/ IUCN.
Dr Cribb is the author of several books and over 400 scientific papers on orchids including the definitive reference to the Asian slipper orchids entitled The Genus Paphiopedilum published by Sabah-based Natural History Publications (Borneo) and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The current 172-page limp-back book is beautifully illustrated by 142 colour photographs, line drawings and paintings and is the most handy guide to these beautiful orchids.
Datuk C.L. Chan, the publisher, reiterates his continued efforts to document the wonderful biodiversity of Sabah and Borneo and already has guidebook plans on the Hoyas, native fruits and insects in the pipeline.
Cribb is also an advisor to the world-renowned Malesian Orchid Journal founded by Chan in 2008.