Although I am a professional plant taxonomist, I have always been frustrated on my trips to the western United States because I could never identify satisfactorily the agaves, yuccas, and similar-looking plants that I found in the wild. Now, with Agaves, Yuccas, and Their Kin, Jon Hawker has solved that problem and done the impossible in creating an ... Read moreeasy-to-use identification guide to these enigmatic plants. Bob Mohlenbrock, distinguished professor emeritus, Southern Illinois University Jon Hawker masterfully explains the taxonomy and nomenclature of all the plants he covers and expertly leads the reader through the intricacies and nuances of the oft-times confusing world of plant names. The photographs of all taxa give the reader a feel for the differences between species and what to expect when looking for these plants in habitat. The straightforward, logical approach keeps the reader focused. Greg Starr, Starr Nursery, Tucson, Arizona Show Less