Opuntia basilaris (beavertail cactus) ( )

One common prickly-pear species with a wide elevational and geographical range across our desert region is beavertail cactus. It occurs in sites from the lower Sonoran Desert through the Mojave Desert to desert mountains as high as 7,000 feet. This is a small species, generally no more than about 20 inches in height, with oval pads of a distinctive blue-green or purplish color. Large spines are generally absent but the usual potent glochids, characteristic of prickly-pear species, are certainly present. While the small size of the beavertail cactus makes it easy to overlook in summer, its large magenta flowers standout at some distance in the spring. Although the plants are relatively small, repeat photographs of desert sites where these occur suggest tat individuals can live for 60 years or more."California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Micahel E Kauffmann."