The Genus Pleione (Kew Magazine Monographs)

This monograph deals with the genus pleione and its hybrids. Pleiones have been cultivated in Europe for over a century and a half because of their attractive appearance and their relatively trouble-free cultivation. By the 1960s the limited number of distinct species in cultivation had led to a gradual decline in their popularity. The discovery of species new to science, the introduction of species not previously in cultivation, a greater variety of clones of well-known species not previously in cultivation, a greater variety of clones of well-known species and the advent of hybridizing in the 1970s has immeasurably broadened the range of pleiones in cultivation. The classification of pleione has never been easy and it has only recently become possible, with the introduction of new material into cultivation, and detailed analysis of the morphology, cytology and breeding behaviour of these plants. The authors present here an up-to-date classification of the genus in which they recognize 15 species and two natural hybrids. They also include a brief description of all hybrid grexes registered up to the end of 1987. There is a chapter on growing methods in the form of a monthly calender to assist growers in planning their cultivation methodically.