Some species of Cactaceae of Northeastern Brazil, most from Caatingas, are focused on here where their main palynological characters are presented. Light and scanning electron microscopy analysis were made on acetolysed pollen grains. The species were gathered in five groups: (1) 3-colpate, perforate, spinulous to spinous pollen grains (Harrisia adscendens, Cereus albicaulis, C. jamacaru, Pilosocereus catingicola, P. chrysostele, P. glaucochrous, P. pachycladus, P. tuberculatus, Stephanocereus luetzelburgii, Arrojadoa rhodantha and Facheiroa squamosa); (2) pantocolpate, perforate, spinulous pollen grains (Pereskia stenantha, Melocactus bahiensis, M. ernestii and M. zehntneri); (3) pantocolpate, perforate, psilate to granulate pollen grains (Opuntia cochenillifera and O. palmadora); (4) pantoporate, perforate, psilate pollen grains (O. inamoena); (5) pantoporate, foveolate to reticulate, granulate pollen grains (O. ficus-indica). Abnormal, atremate, and 2-syncolpate pollen grains were present in most species (mainly in Melocactus spp.). Species of Cereeae formed a stenopalynous group, to which H. adscendens (Hylocereeae) and F. squamosa (Trichocereeae) were joined. All species studied presented pollen grains adapted to the xeric conditions of the caatingas.