Opuntia basilaris Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow
Beavertail cactus
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Caryophyllidae Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
Order Caryophyllales Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
Family Cactaceae Succulent (water-storing) plants, often spiny
Genus Opuntia Prickly pears
Species basilaris Basal, stretching from the base
About plant names...
The beavertail cactus is native to the southwestern United States, and to northwestern Mexico.
It is a type of prickly pear cactus.
Identification: Instead of the long spines most prickly pear
cacti have, beavertails, named because the pads resemble beaver tails, usually lack spines. In their
place are small, barbed bristles. Flowers are bright pink, yellow, peach, or salmon-colored.
Flowering beavertail cactus, Nelson Canyon, NV. By Stan Shebs.
Online References:
Opuntia basilaris v. basilaris on Wikipedia
Opuntia basilaris v. basilaris on keiriosity.com
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
5/2/2018 · Indian Cove, Joshua Tree National Park, Joshua Tree, California · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)
Opuntia basilaris description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
5/3/2018 · Barker Dam, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
5/3/2018 · Barker Dam, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
5/1/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, Twentynine Palms, California
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park
5/3/2018 · Barker Dam, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)
Range:
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