Rare and Exotic Orchids (PDF)

Joel L. Schiff was born in Chicago and has a PhD in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles. He spent his career at the University of Auckland and has written three books on various mathematical subjects (published by Springer-Verlag and John Wiley & Sons). He has also been a successful part-time asteroid hunter and was the founder and publisher of an international journal on Meteorites, for which he was awarded the 2012 Service Award from the International Meteoritical Society.
Having a life-long interest in art, Schiff is also an artist who paints in oils and in 2014 had a book published about the New Zealand/Australian/British artist, Grace Joel. Research led him to discover Marie Bashkirtseff, one of the most fascinating individuals of the 19th century, about whom his next book (2016) was published.

“WHAT A WONDERFUL book through and through: plenty of interesting background notes and chockful of fun facts! The author’s writing style reads like a novel. … If you are looking for a book that is engaging and educational with lots of good humor thrown in, buy this book. I know that I will treasure my copy for years to come.” (Laura Newton, ORCHIDS, May, 2018)“Orchid aficionados will find Rare and Exotic Orchids's different approach eschews the more common attempt to classify and cover thousands of species in favor of a more concentrated profile of selected exotics which represent some of the rarest plants on Earth. … a recommendation not just for professionals or botany libraries, but for general interest readers who will enjoy a highly accessible study that invites an in-depth interest in orchids and their importance to human affairs.” (California Bookwatch, Vol. 13 (5), May, 2018)

“ … All in all a fabulous read that is well illustrated and with a reference section the likes of which I have never seen before with its vast and varied appendices on a slew of subjects. If you are looking for a book that is engaging and educational with lots of good humor thrown in, then this book is for you. I know that I will treasure my copy for years to come.” (Laura Newton, ORCHIDS, May, 2018)
“The pleasure in Rare & Exotic Orchids lies in its ability to reach into general-interest audiences with little prior background in botany or orchids. … The result creates a lively blend of history on the discoveries of new exotic orchids and how individual plants captured different hearts and minds to early explorers and scientific insights, supported by lovely color photos throughout, that will attract even casual orchid fans or newcomers to the topic.” (Donovan's Bookshelf, April, 2018)


“Joel L. Schiff brings to life not just the science surrounding orchids, but the human process of recognizing, cataloging, and appreciating them...It's this approach, combined