For centuries, the allure of orchids has kept the botanically inclined under an intoxicating spell. In Deceptive Beauties, National Geographic photographer Christian Ziegler shares his knowledge and experience of these exotic, fragrant flowers, documenting searches for them in their natural habitats.
Ziegler's exquisite color photographs, taken on five continents, capture the visual intricacies of wild orchids, their delicate shapes and unique configurations. The pollination images reinforce the orchid's dazzling mystery and appeal, as does the commentary on the flower's evolutionary history. Discussion of the adapative qualities that enable orchids to survive and thrive in extremes of both heat and cold, from deserts to arctic air, is combined with a showcase of its beauty and bio-diversity, as Ziegler offers greater insight into why so many continue to fall under the seductive trap of this stunning flower. --Kathleen Gerard, blogger at Reading Between the Lines