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Illustrations of multiple cactus species

Mary Emily Eaton

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Washington, DC, United States

A composite of watercolors depicting several species of cacti found in North and South America. The illustrations are by noted botanical illustrator Mary Emily Eaton (1873-1961). Born in England and formally trained in art, Eaton began illustrating natural subjects while visiting family in Jamaica. She moved to New York in 1911 where she became the principal illustrator for The New York Botanical Garden, producing hundreds of plates. The illustration shown here comes from her illustration work for The Cactaceae by Britton & Rose, a publication on cactus taxonomy that is still considered an important scientific work today. Hundreds of Eaton’s works are part of the collections of the The New York Botanical Garden, the National Geographic Society, and the Smithsonian Institution.

Plate Number: 34
Publication: The Cactaceae Vol. 3 Pl. 4, Fig. 1,2,3,4 and 5 Client: Britton, N.L. and Rose, J.N. - Size: 11x14 Remarks: Matted and framed in W404, NHB.
Figure 1
Echinocereus sciurus (Cactaceae) - Collection: Rose, J.N., Mexico, San Jose del Cabo, Lower Ca.; top of flowering plant.
Artist: Eaton, Mary Emily - Date unknown - watercolor
Figure 2
Lobivia cinnabarina (Cactaceae) - Collection: Simon, M. s.n., Jun 1912, Bolivia, (spec. in cult); flowering plant.
Artist: Eaton, Mary Emily - Date unknown - watercolor
Figure 3
Echinocereus fendleri (Cactaceae) - Collection: Long, W.H., 1915, U.S.A., Albuquerque, N.M.; flowering plant.
Artist: Eaton, Mary Emily - Date unknown - watercolor
Figure 4
Echinocereus lloydii (Cactaceae) - Type - Collection: Lloyd, F.E. 9, 26 Feb 1909, U.S.A., Texas; top of flowering plant.
Artist: Eaton, Mary Emily - Date unknown - watercolor
Figure 5
Rebutia minuscula (Cactaceae) - Collection: , 1912, Argentina, northwestern section; flowering plant.
Artist: Eaton, Mary Emily - Date unknown - watercolor

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  • Title: Illustrations of multiple cactus species
  • Creator: Mary Emily Eaton
  • Physical Dimensions: 28 cm x 36 cm
  • Type: Illustration
  • Rights: This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. The image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. http://www.si.edu/termsofuse
  • External Link: View this object record in the Smithsonian Institution Collections Search Center
  • Medium: Watercolor
  • Scientific Name: <i>Echinocereus sciurus</i>, <i>Lobivia cinnabarina</i>, <i>Echinocereus fendleri</i>, <i>Echinocereus lloydii</i>, <i>Rebutia minuscula</i>
  • Photo Credit: Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
  • Field: Botany
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

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