Family of mostly succulent plants, adapted to dry environments

concept

Eight plants, including an orchid, a magnolia and a cactus: flowering stems. Coloured etching, c. 1834.

Iris, Aesculapius and Flora routing death. Mezzotint by J.J. Haid, 1737, after J.W. Baumgartner.

A plantation of cochineal cacti (Nopalea cochenillifera) with workers gathering and preparing cochineal. Engraving.

Turk's cap cactus (Melocactus communis): flowering plant. Coloured etching by J. Pass, c. 1800, after J. Ihle.

A thicket of cactus (Cereus dyckii) in Guatemala. Wood engraving, c. 1867.

Cochineal cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera) with insects that feed on it, including the cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus). Coloured etching by J. Pass, c. 1801, after J. Ihle.

Seven plants, including a lupin and an aster: flowering stems. Coloured etching, c. 1833.

Agriculture: men gathering insects from cactus plants, then processing them. Engraving.

Eight plants, including two orchids and two hawthorns: flowering stems. Coloured etching, c. 1837.

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia species): stem and flowers. Aquatint, c.1823.

Seven plants, including two orchids and a poppy: flowering stems. Coloured etching, c. 1833.

A prickly pear (Opuntia species): flowering and fruiting stem. Coloured etching by J. Pass, c. 1800, after J. Ihle.

The pain of it all, emotional cancer journey, artwork

Cactus and succulent growing tips.

Las Cactáceas de México / por Isaac Ochoterena.

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Shop

Café

We're experiencing some technical problems in the library today. 

If you’re visiting us, you won’t be able to print or use our PCs or laptops. If you want to sign-up for a free library membership, we’ll give you a temporary card for today and complete your membership next time you visit.

You can access items from the collection as usual and our team is on hand to help. Thank you for your patience while we resolve these issues. 

We're running paid user research studies to improve Wellcome Collection online

Take part in research

Cactaceae

Images from the collections

Images referencing Cactaceae

Works from the collections

Cochineal cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera) with insects that feed on it, including the cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus). Coloured etching by J. Pass, c. 1801, after J. Ihle.

The pain of it all, emotional cancer journey, artwork

A thicket of cactus (Cereus dyckii) in Guatemala. Wood engraving, c. 1867.

Cactus and succulent growing tips.

Las Cactáceas de México / por Isaac Ochoterena.

Cactaceae

Images from the collections

Images referencing Cactaceae

Works from the collections

Cochineal cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera) with insects that feed on it, including the cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus). Coloured etching by J. Pass, c. 1801, after J. Ihle.

The pain of it all, emotional cancer journey, artwork

A thicket of cactus (Cereus dyckii) in Guatemala. Wood engraving, c. 1867.

Cactus and succulent growing tips.

Las Cactáceas de México / por Isaac Ochoterena.

Related topics