Flora of Madagascar Forty-Ninth Family-Orchids

From the Translator's Preface. The reason for this translation is to assist non-French speaking members of the orchid community with a more complete understanding of the systematics of the orchids from Madagascar and the surrounding areas. It is sincerely hoped by the translator that the further availability of identification materials will spur new and increasing interest in the flora from this area. In an attempt to simplify the use of this material a Table of Contents as well as a full Alphabetical Index to the Illustrations has been added. Steven D. Beckman, Lodi, California About the author ___ Joseph Marie Henry Alfred Perrier de la Bâthie (1873-1958) was a French botanist who specialized in the plants of Madagascar. He delineated the two chief floristic provinces of Madagascar (see Ecoregions of Madagascar). Some of his works include La végétation malgache (1921), Biogéographie de plantes de Madagascar (1936), and numerous volumes of the series Flore de Madagascar et des Comores (1946-1952). The orchid genus Neobathiea (originally Bathiea) was named in his honor, as was the indriid lemur Perrier's Sifaka (Propithecus perrieri). Several species of Madagascar plants were named for him, including Erythrina perrieri, Ensete perrieri, Euphorbia perrieri, Melanophylla perrieri, Podocarpus perrieri, Takhtajania perrieri (originally Bubbia perrieri), and Xerosicyos perrieri.