Family: Cactaceae, Cactus view all from this family

Description Flat, grayish-green, leafless, jointed stems in a clump, lack large spines and have vivid rose or reddish-lavender flowers on upper edge of joint.
Flowers: 2-3" (5-7.5 cm) wide, with many petals.
Stems: joints oval, widest above middle, 2-13" (5-32.5 cm) long, 1-6" (2.5-12.5 cm) wide, 1/2" (1.3 cm) thick.
Spines: 1/8-1/4" (3-6 mm) long, red-brown, in many small clusters.
Fruit: 1 1/4" (3.1 cm) long, egg-shaped, grayish-brown, dry, with many seeds.
Height: 6-12" (15-30 cm), with the clump of stems 6' (1.8 m) wide.

Warning Most cacti of the genus Opuntia have sharp spines as well as tiny barbed bristles called glochids that can be difficult to remove from the skin. The bristles of the Beavertail can irritate the skin but this species does not pose the danger of species with long, rigid spines, such as the Plains Prickly-pear (Opuntia polyacantha).

Flower March-June.

Habitat Dry, rocky, desert flats or slopes.

Range Southeastern California to southwestern Utah and western Arizona; south to Sonora.

Discussion The gray-green stems, low growth, and brilliant flowers, which often nearly cover the plant, make this a popular ornamental in hot, dry climates. It need not be dug up; a joint broken from a plant will quickly root in dry sand. Opuntia with flat joints are called Pricklypear; in the Southwest, if the fruits are juicy and edible, they area called tuna by people of Spanish-American heritage.