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AGAVES OF CONTINENTAL NORTH AMERICA
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Pages: |
670 |
Year: |
1998 |
B/w photos: |
278 |
Drawings: |
111 |
Maps: |
35 |
Language: |
English |
Size (cm): |
18.6 x 26.2 |
Size (inches): |
7 1/4 x 10 1/4 |
ISBN: |
0816507759 |
Binding: |
hardbound |
List price: |
USD 115.00
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Lowest price: |
USD 49.95  |
Discount: |
57% (USD 65.05) |
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 Review by azcactus@primenet.com from Bisbee, Arizona: "The Bible of the Agaves is back in print!" |
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| This book, originally printed in 1982, is an indispensable guide to the Agaves, a group of plants that have been used by the people of Mesoamerica for well over 9,000 years. With a copy of this book in your fat little hands, you can learn how to brew up a few cups of killer Mescal and weave a mat to rest on while you contemplate the authority of your brew... Dr. Gentry gave twenty-five years of his life to the Agaves, conducting field research from central Nevada south to the islands off the coast of Panama. Widely recognized as the world's leading authority on the Agaves, Dr. Gentry was an agricultural explorer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more than 30 years. I first met Dr. Gentry while on a field trip in Mexico in the late 50's. I was asked to be his mailman. I delivered mail from the U.S. to him and took mail back to post from El Paso. I learned more about the Agave family in one night around the campfire than I could have learned in two semesters at a University. I was invited to a reception honoring Dr. Gentry back in 1982 at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The occasion was a giant celebration of the publication of the book Agaves of Continental North America. Part of the funding for the book was from a grant from the National Academy of Science. A day after the reception, Dr. Gentry took me over to his office to share some field data and photos with me. When I asked Dr. Gentry about the fine points of funding research and writing, he smiled and said: "You know, I would rather re-write the entire book and do all of the field work all over again than I would fill out all the paper work necessary to obtain funding from the National Academy." Dr. Gentry's book is one of those rare books that speak to the scholar and to the layman. Every serious student of desert plants needs a copy of this book. I know that Dr. Gentry is in Agave heaven, visiting with Mayahuel, the Goddess of Agaves and together, they are profusely thanking the University of Arizona Press, for this important reprint! |
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Table of contents:
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PART I. BACKGROUND TO AGAVES
1. THE MAN-AGAVE SYMBIOSIS......................3
The Historical Perspective...................3
Agave as Food................................5
The Beverages of Agaves......................8
Agave Fibers................................16
Agave as a Paper Source.....................20
Medicinal and Miscellaneous Uses............21
The Native Names of Agaves..................23
Summary of the Symbiosis....................24
2. TAXONOMIC HISTORY AND MORPHOLOGY............25
Agave Collectors............................25
Agave Taxonomists...........................27
Characters of Agave.........................30
Methods for Preparing Herbarium Specimens...47
3. GEOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO SPECIES
AND THE EXSICCATAE..........................49
Synopsis of Agaves in Arizona...............50
Synopsis of Agaves in Central Mexico........51
Synopsis of Agaves in
the Chihuahuan Desert....................53
Synopsis of Agaves in
the Jaliscan Plateau Region..............55
Synopsis of Agaves in Texas.................56
Catalogue of Specimens or the Exsiccatae....57
Abbreviations...............................57
List of Agave States by Countries...........58
PART II. SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT OF GENUS AND SPECIES:
SUBGENUS LITTAEA
Key to Groups of Subgenus Littaea...........61
Sectional List of Species...................62
4. GROUP AMOLAE................................63
5. GROUP CHORITEPALAE..........................89
6. GROUP FILIFERAE............................101
7. GROUP MARGINATAE...........................124
8. GROUP PARVIFLORAE..........................195
9. GROUP POLYCEPHALAE.........................216
10.GROUP STRIATAE.............................235
11.GROUP URCEOLATAE...........................251
PART III. SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT OF GENUS
AND SPECIES: SUBGENUS AGAVE
Key to Groups of Subgenus Agave............267
Sectional List of Species..................269
12.GROUP AMERICANAE...........................270
13.GROUP CAMPANIFLORAE........................309
14.GROUP CRENATAE.............................323
15.GROUP DESERTICOLAE.........................354
16.GROUP DITEPALAE............................416
17.GROUP HIEMIFLORAE..........................465
18.GROUP MARMORATAE...........................507
19.GROUP PARRYANAE............................520
20.GROUP RIGIDAE..............................551
21.GROUP SALMIANAE............................594
22.GROUP SISALANAE............................619
23.GROUP UMBELLIFLORAE........................635
PART IV. CULTURE OF AGAVES AND OTHER ADDENDA
CULTURE OF AGAVES..........................651
REFERENCES.................................653
GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS..................659
INDEX......................................663
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