The Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Beautiful Orchid

PK lady slipper
Can the prestige and profit of an orchid discovery make people, even reputable institutions, flout the law? You bet they can. And when it’s the dazzling PK lady slipper, the most important orchid discovery in a century, you can bet it involves lying, cheating, search warrants, subpoenas, and criminal fines. Author Craig Pittman recounts the intricate story in The Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Beautiful Orchid. With complications like inadequate conservation laws and rampant rainforest destruction, its twists and turns are drawing comparisons to the classic Maltese Falcon. In this bloodless drama, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida has the dubious distinction as the only US botanical garden ever to be found guilty of smuggling. Rushing to be the first to name the new species, Selby experts knowingly used a plant brought illegally from Peru. This well researched book dives into the depths of orchid obsession.

“FANTASTIC. If I did not know most of the main players I would have thought the author had a vivid and twisted imagination.”—Paul Martin Brown, author of Wild Orchids of Florida

“A fascinating true story of obsession, greed, and lust for the unobtainable. Reminds me a great deal of The Maltese Falcon. This rare flower is definitely the stuff that dreams are made of.”—Ace Atkins, author of Devil’s Garden and Infamous


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6 Comments on “The Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Beautiful Orchid”

  1. ORLANDO Says:

    very interesting article
    thanks

  2. Roy Perrault Says:

    This page offers a nice individual twist on things. I guess having something authentic or substantial to talk about is the most important thing.

  3. Carolina H. Says:

    Sounds like a very interesting book. maybe it will makemy summer reading list.

  4. Kaley Smith Says:

    Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
    It will always be exciting to read through articles from
    other writers and use a little something from other websites.
    Very pretty picture too!

  5. SalinasLara32 Says:

    Its a great book! Quick pace and very interesting. Too many characters to keep track of but it has a list to refer back to. I did that a lot. The author does a great job to tie everything together.

  6. Rona Says:

    Discovered your article really exciting in fact. Saw this book inthe store and was trying to decide to buy it. Now I will! I seriously really enjoyed studying it therefore you make very some fantastic details. I’ll bookmark this web site for the long run! Really excellent content.