John Pilbeam is the well respected author of a number of books about various genera of cacti and succulents. For this 21st effort he has turned his attention to the genus agave. He was encouraged in this by his Mexico travelling companion and long time agave enthusiast Derek Bowdery. This is essentially a picture book and the author has managed to collect a truly magnificent collection of photos from enthusiasts around the world and assembled them into a stunning volume.

There are notes on classification, cultivation and maps of habitat. The bulk of the book is devoted to over 350 photos and apart from the 'standard' plants there are photos of a number of Caribbean agaves,rarely included in agave literature, and also some of the plants newly described and named in the last few years. There is currently much interest in variegated agaves and there is a whole section devoted to these plants.

The photos are large, 42 x 15 cms., to show off each species. Most are habitat based but there are some of cultivated plants. There are brief notes accompanying each photo.

This is a wonderful new addition to the growing amount of agave literature and a book no one even vaguely interested in agaves should be without.

 

This book can be obtained directly from the British Cactus and Succulent Society

 

Hot on the heels of his very successful 'Gallery of Agaves' author John Pilbeam has been hard at work and produced a follow up title which should prove just as popular.This book is a splendid account of the wonderful wealth of cacti and succulents which occur in Baja California, Mexico. With 233 pages and 437 pictures and costing £43, it describes in some detail the flora of one of the few remaining, largely primitive, unspoilt wild places .

it may be purchased from the British Cactus & Succulent Society