Author Information:

CATHERINE HERBERT HOWELL, a former National Geographic staff member, has written extensively on nature and natural history. She explored the relationships between people and plants in Flora Mirabilis: How Plants Have Shaped World Knowledge, Health, Wealth, and Beauty (2009) and covered the importance of birds in culture in the National Geographic Bird-watcher's Bible (2012). Howell also authored National Geographic Pocket Guide to Wildflowers of North America (2014) and National Geographic Pocket Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians (2015) and was a contributing writer to National Geographic Illustrated Guide to Nature (2013) and National Geographic Illustrated Guide to Wildlife (2014). Howell serves as a master naturalist volunteer in Arlington, Virginia. JARED TRAVNICEK is medical illustrator with an MA in Medical and Biological illustration from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is based in Indianapolis, IN, where he works as a neurosurgical illustrator.