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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

Photo by Mike Plagens

The yellow flowers typically have orange bases to the petals and the spines darker colored. Detailed Description

Photo by Mike Plagens

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

Photo by Mike Plagens

A Mojave Desert cactus that's found in the northwestern potions of the Sonoran. Short or absent spines. Oblong pads. Pink flowers. Detailed Description

Photo by Mike Plagens

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

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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, 1999-2012