Epiphytic Orchids by E.R. Harrison (Wildlife Protection and Conservation Society of South Africa – Natal Branch, 1972) is a focused regional study of one of the most specialised and ecologically significant groups of orchids found in southern Africa. Published in 1972 by the Natal branch of the Wildlife Protection and Conservation Society, this work was produced during a period of growing concern for habitat preservation and indigenous plant conservation in the region.
The book concentrates on epiphytic orchids, species that grow on trees and other plants rather than in soil, and which are particularly sensitive to environmental disturbance. Harrison provides clear descriptions of species occurring primarily in Natal and surrounding areas, with attention to their growth habits, host preferences, flowering characteristics, and ecological requirements. The text reflects a strong field-based knowledge of orchids and is grounded in careful observation rather than purely theoretical botany.
Epiphytic Orchids places emphasis on conservation awareness, highlighting the vulnerability of these plants to deforestation, habitat degradation, and indiscriminate collecting. The publication aligns closely with the conservation mandate of the Wildlife Protection and Conservation Society, combining botanical information with an implicit call for responsible interaction with indigenous flora. As such, it serves both as an identification aid and as an educational resource promoting environmental stewardship.
Produced in a straightforward, practical format typical of conservation society publications of the early 1970s, this 1972 edition is now of particular interest to collectors of Africana, orchid specialists, and historians of conservation in South Africa. Epiphytic Orchids remains a valuable snapshot of regional orchid knowledge and conservation thinking at a formative stage in South Africa’s environmental history.
