Rob Tilley / Agave (Agave sp.) leaf close-up detail. Maui, Hawaii, February.

Rob Tilley / Agave close up abstract (Agave sp) Botanical Garden, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Rob Tilley / Close up of Agave leaves (Agave macroacantha)Botanical Garden, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Jack Dykinga / Agave (Agave palmeri) plants growing amongst long grass, Sands Ranch Conservation Area, Pima Country, Arizona, USA

Jack Dykinga / Gopher snake (Pituophis sp) amongst Lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla) and prickly pear cacti (Opuntia macrocentra), Maderas del Carmen Natural Reserve, Mexico

Jack Dykinga / Agave (Agave montana) in mountain habitat in the Sierra Madre Oriental range, Nolina (Nolina sp), Madrone and Pine (Pinus sp) also present, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Jack Dykinga / Close-up of Agave (Agave montana) with red thorns / spines and interesting patternation on blades, Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Jack Dykinga / Looking down into the leaves of an Agave plant {Agave utahensis} with Pinyon pine cone {Pinus edulis}, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Arizona, USA

Denis-Huot / Cattle in Sisal (Agave sisalana) fields, near lake Bogoria, Kenya, March 2011

Martin Gabriel / Lion's Tail / Swan's Neck (Agave attenuata) in flower. La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain, February.

Rob Tilley / Agave (Agave sp.) leaf close-up detail. Maui, Hawaii, February.

Toby Roxburgh / Agave (Agave genus) and Palms (Palmae) growing in the Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech, Morocco, March 2010.