Opuntia basilaris Engelm. & Bigelow var. aurea (E.M. Baxter) W.T. Marsh.
Opuntia erinacea Engelm. & Bigelow ex Engelm. var. aurea (E.M. Baxter) S.L. Welsh
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Opuntia aurea McCabe ex E. M. Baxter 1933 Creeping beavertail, yellow beavertail
These cacti are found only in the southern part of Utah and northern Arizona, where they are native and often quite abundant. Identification: These plants are low—4-12" (10-30 cm)—lying on or growing close to the ground. The stem segments are ellipse- or egg-shaped, 1¾-4" (5-10 cm) × 1-2" (3-6 cm) across. The glochids, tiny hairlike clusters of needles, are tan or brown, and ⅛" (3 mm) long. Spines are absent, though varying degrees of introgression—natural hybridization—have produced plants that often have spines, especially along the outer edges of the stem segments. Flowers are yellow or pink,[1] and 1¾-3" (5-7.5 cm) in size. Fruits are ½-⅞" (1.5-2.5 cm) in diameter, green, lacking spines. See this Opuntia comparison table.
By Howard Cheng. This picture was probably taken at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, because the cactus is not found in the wild in California. The photo is identified as Opuntia basilaris var. aurea, but the more recently accepted name is Opuntia aurea. References:
Anderson, Edward F., The Cactus Family, Timber Press, 2001, p. 488 Online References:
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network (includes locations of sightings) 1The pink coloration is also due to introgression. (Thanks to Tony Frates for correctly identifying the pink ones.) Opuntia aurea description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
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6/3/2009 · Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park, Utah
With some introgression. · 6/3/2009 · Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park, Utah
With significant introgression. · 6/3/2009 · Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park, Utah
With some introgression. · 6/3/2009 · Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park, Utah Range:
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ID is uncertain 
