The beavertail cactus is a small prickly pear cactus found mostly in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts of the U.S. and in northwest Mexico. They have gray-green stems that are wide and flat resembling the tail of a beaver. They are spineless, but have small bristles, called glochids, that penetrate the skin.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQdxv4XFKOLyn3HP4z1nqXsLcN9xohtGZhr8qUKqDDqbgp9vxgZWoeaMqP85QamnGVswfKYFGtygLyrfEP6TU1XBdJrwLPAvQc-1UKbOmZbWrV8UupBMTu8IWF4MOoUs8KOMGF22HI0s/s400/1a+Beavertail+Cactus+-+Joshua+Tree+-+Cottonwood.jpg)
The beavertails above and below were found in the Cottonwood area of Joshua Tree National Park.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Um2IgUfe_VhP94NuEGEncIILObxLegg7fsQX-9cHrNCfbJ13tSfTyrdSiGZ61ArRytSH1ceGgI6YxZKp2tglROwZTk3m6Elibog2UcxUb3aQTjJsAa1zJnqc1CrKBovXLMz8db77b_g/s400/1b+Beavertail+Cactus+-+Joshua+Tree+-+Cottonwood+2.jpg)
During times of drought, large animals such as bighorn sheep will eat the beavertails as a source of moisture. The two pictures below, both from the San Felipe Hills, have bite marks in them from bighorn sheep, deer, or some other large animal.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7ys9c49KwRfkm-H1XKOAXyjsau9vabVMjUHkKaCM_9nGRXTRSWuu3D7TP4niREWdlwrJClZFgJDudb5ja7NMIHYzcvddTQvzaNAqoQgeguIlPAvfGmOYR3KUGgPBqqwQWHjMEIzztr4/s400/1c+Beavertail+-+bite+out.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAkYBPrTLRZ0hpz0UZG8lES6XLb1AOPCB-dywxbdAVbDRlnmGUHN5-eG1TOWK1pzceJw7pgwch9M67QTV0IDBstKqMa3JCJ64b1xkeT_d_kMQO8eKIxPe81FjH91ZCqEUfbjsPTS3-a4/s400/1d+Beavertail+-+bite+out.JPG)
The beavertails have brilliant pinkish-violet flowers from March to June. The one below was found in Mission Creek Canyon.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A5AqQmKwxsfFTMoJ4R7puxSr5OvaEnGLDMe1iiO81jkcFrLnmGzy1UG2WrtK_2V4K_FeKbjLC50EmIhp95wR-ELoF_S7YgOwsRC7wora10aCxvdLMUp7lUsSoE7FhXyhPZIdy-hI9C8/s400/1e+Beavertail+Cactus+-+Mission+Creek.jpg)
The next two beavertails were found in Borrego Palm Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Such a beautiful cactus! I LOVE that last picture of that bloom, stunning!
ReplyDeleteTHEY ALSO CAN GROW IN CENTRAL CALIFORINA
ReplyDeleteI HAVE ONE BLOOMING RIGHT NOW IN MY BACKYARD