Howard Scott Gentry, Agaves of Continental North America, Ed. The University of Arizona Press, 1982

“A

gaves are unique in the whole plant kingdom,” observes Howard Gentry, “not merely because of their succulent character but because of a special role they have played in the Indigenous civilizations in North America”. Long a source of food, beverage, fiber, and even medicine, perhaps the full potential of these plants has yet to be realized.

This extensive volume does more than address the uses to which agaves have been put by man. Each of 136 species native to continental North America is discussed in a separate essay covering taxonomic description, distinguishing features, distribution and habitat, vernacular names, horticultural notes, and of course known uses. Twenty generic groupings of the species facilitate comparison, while geographic groups further aid in identification. An abundance of line drawings, photographs, and distribution maps makes the book even more useful for field research.

The author himself devoted twentyfive years of travel, from Utah to Panama, to the cataloging of agaves. While this volume thus represents a distinguished contribution to the botanical literature, even amateurs familiar only with the century plant will find it a veritable forest of fascinating information

Prima edizione del 1982, in lingua inglese, pubblicata dalla University of Arizona Press, a copertina rigida in tela gialla con titolazioni e fregi in verde al piatto e al dorso; dotata di sovracoperta semi-lucida fotografica a colori; rilegata a filo; testo stampato su carta semi-lucida di buona qualità, con ampie marginature al testo; ricca di numerose fotografie e schemi/disegni in B/N.

Come Nuovo [il volume non mostra danni strutturali, strappi, segni, mancanze o usure gravi che vadano evidenziate; legatura snodata e resistente; copertine rigide quasi intonse, con poche e piccole sporcature di polvere; sovracoperta in ottime condizioni, con minimi segni di vissuto e piccole crepe non serie ai margini; coste ancora luminose; ingiallimento delle pagine pressoché assente]