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What is Beavertail Cactus
Beavertail Cactus Overview
Opuntia basilaris, the beavertail cactus or beavertail prickly pear, is a medium-sized to small prickly pear cactus species found in the southwest United States with pink to rose-colored flowers.
A single plant may consist of hundreds of fleshy, flattened pads.
They are typically spineless, but have instead many small barbed bristles, called glochids, that easily penetrate the skin.
Each areole supports many glochids but are usually without spines.
Opuntia basilaris blooms from spring to early summer.
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species: O. basilaris
Beavertail Cactus Height
2.8 to 15.7 inches (15 to 30 cm)
Water Sources for the Beavertail Cactus
Surface water.
Habitat and Range
It occurs mostly in the Mojave, Anza-Borrego, and Colorado Deserts, as well as in the Colorado Plateau and northwest Mexico.
It is also found throughout the Grand Canyon and Colorado River region as well as into southern Utah and Nevada, and in the western Arizona regions along the Lower Colorado River Valley in well-drained soil, gravelly sand, and rocky outcrops from 200′ – 3,000′.
Pollination
Wind, insects, animals
Photos and Videos
Below is a transcription of the above sign found at the Valley of Fire Visitor Center.
Beavertail Cactus – Opuntia basilaris
COMMUNITY
Creosote Bush Scrub
ADAPTATION FOR SURVIVAL
Flat, wide pads with thick “skin” to hold moisture.
Pads covered with tiny, hair-like spines.
COMMENTS
Be careful of this cactus, as the tiny spines work into the skin and are very difficult to see and remove.
Cactus fruits and pads are important food for many desert animals, especially woodrat and jackrabbit.
Indians cook both fruits and pads after removing their spines.
Resources Used
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opuntia_basilaris
What is Beavertail Cactus
I am an outdoor enthusiast who would rather be on a backcountry backpacking trip than a stroll on the beach (although I do love the beach!).
Living in Las Vegas has afforded me the opportunity to easily explore the Southwest region of the United States.
A nature lover, I am often found at the end of the pack taking photos and videos of the wildlife found on the trails. Colorful flowers, desert animals, and unusual geological rock formations are often the majority of my photos.
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