Beavertail Cactus
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The Beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris) belongs to the same genus as Pricklypear cacti.
It's flat shaped resembles a beaver's tail, and it grows in clumps that range between one and two feet tall.
Unlike other pricklypear cactus, it does not have spines on the leaves. Absent the spines, it is important to handle the cactus with care. It produces glochids, or small sharp hair-like features, that stick as sharply as any spine.
Beavertail cacti can be found in sandy soils at different altitudes around the desert Southwest.
© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels.