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Sonoran Desert Cacti

Large to small cacti with with jointed stems that are compressed into flat segments. Areoles where spines arise also bear glochids, minute, almost invisible spines that readily penetrate the skin.

Brown-spine Prickly Pear	Opuntia phaeacantha	Engelmann Prickly Pear	Opuntia chlorotica
The yellow flowers typically have orange bases to the petals and the spines darker colored. Detailed Description		The unopened buds are red-tinted, but the petals are mostly yellow at anthesis. Lighter colored spines. Detailed Description
Beavertail Prickly Pear	Opuntia basilaris	Pancake Prickly Pear	Opuntia chlorotica
A Mojave Desert cactus that's found in the northwestern potions of the Sonoran. Short or absent spines. Oblong pads. Pink flowers. Detailed Description		Robust prickly pear with usu. one main stem or trunk. Spines often small and/or few. Flat stem segments are almost circular in outline. Occasional to common in upper elevations of the Sonoran Desert. Detailed Description
Other Cactus Types Columnar Cactus (Saguaro, Organpipe, etc.) Barrels, Hedgehogs Pincushions Chollas

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