Orchids are among the most popular and widely collected of plant families, with tropical species and hybrids being cultivated the world over for their remarkable flowers. The aim of Genera Orchidacearum is to produce a robust and natural classification of the orchids, something which has eluded plant scientists and orchid enthusiasts for years. The editors, who are all distinguished orchid specialists, will incorporate the wealth of new molecular data into a truly phylogenetic classification, and will identify the areas and taxa needing additional work. To this end, they will draw on the experience of several international contributors. Genera Orchidacearum will be published in a total of five volumes over five years, with each volume providing comprehensive coverage of one or two orchid subfamilies. The series as a whole will be an absolutely indispensable reference tool both for scientists, and orchid breeders, collectors, and enthusiasts. This, the first volume of the Genera