Cactaceae Collection (#7)

Moon Flower / Night-blooming Cereus / Pitaya / Dragonfruit / Strawberry Pear / Queen of the Night blossom
ASW-4854 Moon Flower / Night-blooming Cereus / Pitaya / Dragonfruit / Strawberry Pear / Queen of the Night blossom. Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Saguaro Cacti (Carnegiea gigantea) growing in desert with approaching stormclouds, Saguaro N. P
Saguaro Cacti (Carnegiea gigantea) growing in desert with approaching stormclouds, Saguaro N.P. (West), Sonoran Desert, Arizona, U.S.A. february

Cacti - Saguaro Cristate (Carnegiea gigantea) With fanlike top

Cacti - Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) Close up of flower

Sagauro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) At sunrise / Arizona

Cacti Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) showing typical arm development on mature plants

Cactus - Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios var. barringtonensis) Flower - Santa Fe Is. Galapagos
Cactus - Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios var.barringtonensis) Flower - Santa Fe Is. Galapagos

Indian Fig Opuntia (Opuntia ficus-indica) introduced species, graffiti carved into pads, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, january

Lava Cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus) growing on lava rock, Galapagos Islands

Candle Cactus (Ritterocereus griseus) stems, used for livestock fencing, Bonaire, Leeward Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Caribbean

Candle Cactus (Ritterocereus griseus) close-up of stems, used for livestock fencing, Bonaire, Leeward Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Caribbean

Cacti in flower
Cacti (family Cactaceae) in flower. Photographed in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Cactus in flower
Cactus (family Cactaceae) in flower, looking from above. Photographed in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Cacti, close-up. Photographed at the Chelsea Flower Show, London, UK

Golden barrel cacti (Echinocactus grusonii). A cactus is a plant that has tissues adapted to minimise water loss in the arid environment it inhabits

Barrel cactus (Ferocactus sp.). This cactus is barrel-shaped, but becomes columnar with age and reaches around 4 metres in height

Cacti and succulent plants in a public garden. Photographed in the Cactus Garden, Karl Johan Park, Norrkoping, Sweden

Cacti. Unidentified cacti (family Cactaceae) in a desert. Cacti are succulent plants, which means that they are able to store water in swollen tissues

Cactus seed, SEM
Cactus seed. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a seed from a cactus flower (family Cactaceae). A seed contains an embryo (a fertilised ovule from which a new plant can grow)

Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor, adult on Texas Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia lindheimeri), Uvalde County, Hill Country, Texas, USA, April

Golden Hedgehog Cactus Echinocereus nicholii. Sonoran desert, Mexico and Arizona
ROG-13500 Golden Hedgehog Cactus Sonoran desert, Mexico and Arizona Echinocereus nicholii Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Giant Cactus / Saguaro - Saguaro National Park (west) - Sonoran Desert - Arizona USA
ROG-13484 Giant Cactus / Saguaro - Saguaro National Park (west) Sonoran Desert - Arizona USA Carnegiea gigantea Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Giant Cactus or Saguaro Carnegiea gigantea with chollas in the Saguaro National Park (west), Sonoran Desert, Arizona
ROG-13497 Giant Cactus or Saguaro with chollas Saguaro National Park (west), Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA Carnegiea gigantea Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Fishhook Barrel Cactus Ferocactus wislizenii, in fruit; Arizona
ROG-13499 Fishhook Barrel Cactus in fruit Arizona, USA Ferocactus wislizenii Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Giant Cactus or Saguaro Carnegiea gigantea in the Saguaro National Park (west), Sonoran Desert, Arizona
ROG-13502 Giant Cactus or Saguaro Saguaro National Park (west), Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA Carnegiea gigantea Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Saguaro cactus Carnegiea gigantea in the Saguaro National Park (east section), Arizona
ROG-13523 Saguaro cactus Saguaro National Park (east section), Arizona, USA Carnegiea gigantea Bob Gibbons Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Michael S. Nolan / SpecialistStock
Cactus in bloom in the Sonoran Desert of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

Shadow of Saguaro Cactus - In desert wash - Sonoran Desert - Arizona - Record height: 78 feet - Average mature height
CAN-3214 Shadow of Saguaro Cactus - in desert wash Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA Carnegiea gigantea John Cancalosi Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

San Esteban spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura conspicuosa), an endemic iguana found only on Isla San Esteban in the Gulf
Michael Nolan / SpecialistStock

Lindblad expedition leader Sue Perrin viewing the Lindblad expedition ship National Geographic Sea Bird from atop Isla
Michael Nolan / SpecialistStock

Adult osprey (Pandion haliaetus) on cardon cactus on Isla Angel de la Guarda in the upper Gulf of California
Michael Nolan / SpecialistStock

Intruiging and whimsical shapes and patterns in the giant Opuntia cactus (Opuntia echios)
Michael Nolan / SpecialistStock

San Esteban spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura conspicuosa), an endemic iguana found only on Isla San Esteban in the Gulf
Michael Nolan / SpecialistStock

Sunrise over cardon cactus with gulls from Isla San Esteban in the midriff region of Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez)
Michael Nolan / SpecialistStock

Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) - Cristate Form - Sonoran Desert - Arizona - Cristate form may be a genetic variant
CAN-3179 Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), cristate form Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA Carnegiea gigantea Cristate form may be a genetic variant

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

The cactaceae family, known for its unique and resilient plants, has captivated explorers and nature enthusiasts throughout history. In the 19th century, famed explorer Alexander von Humboldt and his party embarked on a plant-collecting expedition, discovering new species of cacti in their journey. Fast forward to modern times, where the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum provides a breathtaking backdrop for an adult captive desert tortoise at sunset. This majestic creature thrives amidst the arid landscape, showcasing the harmony between wildlife and cacti in Tucson. Travel across continents to Valencia, Spain's botanical garden, where a fly perches delicately on a vibrant cactus. The juxtaposition of this tiny insect against the prickly surface highlights nature's intricate details found within these remarkable plants. Venturing further south brings us to Isabella Island in Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. As the sun sets over this enchanting location, it casts an ethereal glow upon towering cacti that dot the landscape - a testament to their resilience in even the harshest environments. Porto Santo Island in Portugal offers another captivating vista with its picturesque scenery. Here lies an oasis adorned with various species of cacti that thrive against all odds within this Atlantic paradise. Amongst these diverse members of the Cactaceae family is Selenicereus hamatus or "Queen of the night. " Its mesmerizing blooms only open after dusk—a true marvel of nature that showcases both beauty and adaptability. Returning to Arizona's Sonoran Desert National Park reveals one of its most iconic inhabitants—the giant saguaro Carnegiea gigantea. These colossal giants stand tall as guardians of this vast desert expanse—an awe-inspiring sight for visitors from around the world. Meanwhile, Santa Fe Island in Ecuador boasts not only stunning landscapes but also plays host to fascinating creatures like land iguanas.