Towering over deserts, arid scrublands, and dry tropical forests, giant cacti grow throughout the Americas, from the United States to ArgentinaÑoften in rough terrain and on barren, parched soils, places inhospitable to people. But as David Yetman shows, many of these tall plants have contributed significantly to human survival. Yetman has been fascinated by columnar cacti for most of his life and now brings years of study and reflection to a wide-ranging and handsomely illustrated book. Drawing on his close association with the Guarij’os, Mayos, and Seris of MexicoÑpeoples for whom such cacti have been indispensable to survivalÑhe offers surprising evidence of the importance of these plants in human cultures. The Great Cacti reviews the more than one hundred species of columnar cacti, with detailed discussions of some 75 that have been the most beneficial to humans or are most spectacular. Focusing particularly on northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, Yetman examines the role of each species in human society, describing how cacti have provided food, shelter, medicine, even religiously significant hallucinogens. Taking readers to the exotic sites where these cacti are foundÑfrom sea-level deserts to frigid Andean heightsÑYetman shows that the great cacti have facilitated the development of native culture in hostile environments, yielding their products with no tending necessary. Enhanced by over 300 superb color photos, The Great Cacti is both a personal and scientific overview of sahuesos, soberbios, and other towering flora that flourish where few other plants growÑand that foster human life in otherwise impossible places.

The saguaro, with its great size and characteristic shape—its arms stretching heavenward, its silhouette often resembling a human—has become the emblem of the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona and northwestern Mexico. The largest and tallest cactus in the United States, it is both familiar and an object of fascination and curiosity. This book offers a complete natural history of this enduring and iconic desert plant. Gathering everything from the saguaro’s role in Sonoran Desert ecology to its adaptations to the desert climate and its sacred place in Indigenous culture, this book shares precolonial through current scientific findings. The saguaro is charismatic and readily accessible but also decidedly different from other desert flora. The essays in this book bear witness to our ongoing fascination with the great cactus and the plant’s unusual characteristics, covering the saguaro’s: history of discovery, place in the cactus family, ecology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, and ethnobotany. The Saguaro Cactus offers testimony to the cactus’s prominence as a symbol, the perceptions it inspires, its role in human society, and its importance in desert ecology.

Towering over deserts, arid scrublands, and dry tropical forests, giant cacti grow throughout the Americas, from the United States to Argentina—often in rough terrain and on barren, parched soils, places inhospitable to people. But as David Yetman shows, many of these tall plants have contributed significantly to human survival. Yetman has been fascinated by columnar cacti for most of his life and now brings years of study and reflection to a wide-ranging and handsomely illustrated book. Drawing on his close association with the Guarijíos, Mayos, and Seris of Mexico—peoples for whom such cacti have been indispensable to survival—he offers surprising evidence of the importance of these plants in human cultures. The Great Cacti reviews the more than one hundred species of columnar cacti, with detailed discussions of some 75 that have been the most beneficial to humans or are most spectacular. Focusing particularly on northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, Yetman examines the role of each species in human society, describing how cacti have provided food, shelter, medicine, even religiously significant hallucinogens. Taking readers to the exotic sites where these cacti are found—from sea-level deserts to frigid Andean heights—Yetman shows that the great cacti have facilitated the development of native culture in hostile environments, yielding their products with no tending necessary. Enhanced by over 300 superb color photos, The Great Cacti is both a personal and scientific overview of sahuesos, soberbios, and other towering flora that flourish where few other plants grow—and that foster human life in otherwise impossible places.

When it comes to garden plants, cacti are anything but standard issue. The bulk of home gardens contain exactly zero species of cactus,Êand the thought of growing them makes gardeners think, ÒOuch!Ó InÊThe GardenerÕs Guide to Cactus: The 100 Best Paddles, Barrels, Columns, and Globes, Scott CalhounÊis out to change that perception, and bring the beauty and ease of cactus home.ÊItÕs high time that cacti took their place alongside the trendyÊsucculent.

Contains color photographs and descriptions of seventy different cacti commonly found growing in the American Southwest, each with a note on size, elevation, and distribution; and includes a glossary.

There are many reasons to grow cacti and other succulents—they're drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and they look great. But what about hardiness? For those who thought that these spectacular plants were only for gardens in California and the Southwest, guess again—hundreds are fully cold-hardy and can be grown outdoors from New England to British Columbia, Wisconsin to Texas. Cacti and Succulents for Cold Climates is filled with inspirational portraits of 274 plants that can be used to create drought-tolerant gardens, as well as tips from regional experts who have mastered the art of growing cacti in parts of the country not usually associated with high temperatures or a scarcity of water. Expert Leo Chance describes how to prepare planting beds, how to get plants well established, how to handle cacti during planting, how to protect plants from cold winters, and when and how much to water.

This is the remarkable story about a plague of prickly-pear cactus plague that nearly crippled Australia during the first quarter of the 20th century. At its peak, the cactus invasion held within its spiny grip more than 60 million acres of choice farm and dairy land and was still spreading at a rate of over a million acres a year. Like some monster from outer space, roads, farms, and entire towns disappeared beneath its "octopus-like" growth. The author takes the reader back into time to hear first-hand accounts of what life was like in this "green Hell" and to explore the reasons why such a plague occurred. Readers will also learn how a group of mostly self-taught biologists were able to save that country by introducing a small brown moth, with the big name of Cactoblastis cactorum, from Argentina whose larvae are voracious cactus-eaters. Finally, there is a special section about gripping new developments concerning this small insect hero that now puts the ecology of the American deserts at serious risk and how a team of American scientists dedicated to reducing that risk are facing that challenge. Complete with 30 color photos, extensive notes and bibliography section, and index.

Beautifully illustrated and highly accessible, this essential guide to cacti and other succulents is both a practical manual and a source of reference and inspiration for all enthusiasts. More than 250 different species or genera, and their natural habitats are described.Topics covered include the unique nature of succulents; the natural environment; history, classification and nomenclature; watering, feeding, general care and propagation; pests and diseases; profiles of cacti and other succulents. Beautifully illustrated with 420 colour transparencies.

Succulents and cacti make the perfect indoor plant pets. Inexpensive to purchase, easy to care for and resilient to the neglect of even the laziest of gardeners, growing these plants is virtually foolproof. Often small in size these plants are the ideal green solution for the city dweller, who has little time and only a small amount of space. However, there are so many different cultivars of cacti and succulents to collect – each with their own needs – that the watering, feeding, potting and general care can differ from plant to plant. The Little Book of Cacti and Other Succulents features a directory of 60 of the most popular varieties of cacti and succulents to own. The entry for each of the 60 plants is accompanied by a photograph and all the essential requirements for that variety in an easy-to-follow breakdown. This includes details on size, growth, spread and flowering, along with any extra tips on care for that specific plant. When given the right care, your cacti and succulents will thrive and grow. Additionally this book includes a general care section on everyday maintenance and potting, along with tips on how to deal with common pests and disease. This is a must-have guide for all cacti and succulent lovers, who already own or want to start a collection of these hardy little plants.

"There is nothing in the world like this book. It should be in every library and on the bookshelves of all those interested in cacti. The book will be an important resource for plant physiology, agronomy, and horticulture classes at both the undergraduate and graduate level."—Bruce Smith, Brigham Young University "Cacti: Biology and Uses is a landmark publication of one of the world's most unique group of plants. Park Nobel, a leading authority on succulent plants, has assembled a collection of contributions that spans a wide range of issues extending from basic systematics, anatomy, physiology and ecology to considerations of conservation and human uses of this diverse group of plants. This nicely-produced and well-illustrated volume provides a resource that will be of great use to a wide range of scientists, practitioners, and enthusiasts of this plant group."—Harold Mooney, Paul S. Achilles Professor of Environmental Biology, Stanford University