Anderson, Edward Frederick, 1932 - 2001

• Author of many major papers on the family Cactaceae. He held a number of positions at botanical institutes in the USA and at the time of his death was Senior Research Botanist at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden.

Backeberg, Curt, 1894 - 1966

• German export agent who developed a keen interest in cacti, undertaking a series of South American expeditions, starting in 1929. A prolific author, and prime exponent of the splitter theory of cactus taxonomy, resulting in his most famous work is the six volume 'Die Cactaceae'.

Berger, Alwin, 1871 - 1931

German botanist and landscape gardener, author of several handbooks on succulent plants and many journal articles.

Boedecker, Friedrich, 1867 - 1937

A painter by trade, born in cologne, he researched and wrote about the family in his spare time.

Borg, John, 1873 - 1945

A Maltese botanist, best known for his book 'Cacti, A Gardeners Handbook'.

Britton, Nathaniel Lord, 1859 -1934

• A founder of the New York Botanical Garden, who was responsible, in collaboration with J.N. Rose for the classic four volume monograph on the family.

Halda, Josef 

A Czech cactus enthusiast

Horacek, Ladislav

A Czech cactus enthusiast.

Hunt, David Richard, born 1938

• English botanist and taxonomist.

Lemaire, Charles (Antoine), 1800 - 1871

• A French horticultural writer and botanist, responsible for raising the standard of illustration in horticulture, his ambition of producing the ultimate illustrated monograph of the family exists only in fragmentary form. 

Ritter, Friedrich, 1898 - 1989

• See  biographical notes.

Rose, Joseph Nelson, 1862 - 1928

• Co-author with N.L. Britton of the four volume monograph 1919-23, responsible for many other papers on the family, as well as major works on the Agavaceae and Crassulaceae.

Salm-Dyck, 1773 - 1861

• Joseph Maria Franz Anton Huber Ignaz, Fűrst und Altgraf zu Salm-Reifferscheid-Dyck, Prussian botanist who built up an extensive collection of succulents and a comprehensive library at Castle Dyck, which was visited by many botanists  who came to study and describe the novelties of the time.

Schumann, Karl Moritz, 1851 - 1904

• A German botanist, Curator of the Berlin Botanical Museum for 20 years, he was responsible for many thoroughly researched works on the family.

Stuppy, Wolfgang Hermann born 1966

German botanist currently based at Kew Gardens.

Taylor, Nigel Paul, born 1956

• English botanist, currently Director of Living Plant Collections at Kew Gardens.