Enough has been said about the scientists, explorers and the pioneering orchid enthusiasts who started collecting orchids in the 19th century, and due respect has been given to the people who started the Malayan Orchid Society which promoted orchids both as a hobby and as an export trade. I am full of admiration for these people and do not begrudge the honors conferred on them (Teoh, 1978). It follows that there should also be better information about the leaders, growers, collectors, breeders and adventurers who sustained the orchid interest in Singapore and Malaysia during the second half of the 20th century. Not everyone appreciates their role and it saddens me to observe how very soon they are forgotten. Without them we would not have the beautiful orchids that now grace our gardens, the thriving orchid societies in the region, and the orchid flower industry in the area. This is a contentious topic because one cannot be absolutely comprehensive, and I admit that my selection in this chapter is personal.
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Teoh, E.S. (2009). Biographies. In: Kull, T., Arditti, J., Wong, S.M. (eds) Orchid Biology: Reviews and Perspectives, X. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8802-5_1
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