Opuntia basilaris

Opuntia basilaris, the beavertail cactus or beavertail pricklypear, is a cactus species found in the southwest United States. It occurs mostly in the Mojave, Anza-Borrego, and Colorado Deserts, as well as in the Colorado Plateau and northwest Mexico. It is also found throughout the Grand Canyon and Colorado River region as well as into southern Utah and Nevada, and in the western Arizona regions along the Lower [Colorado River Valley].

Description

Opuntia basilaris is a medium to small-sized prickly pear cactus tall, with pink to rose colored flowers. A single plant may consist of hundreds of fleshy, flattened pads. These are more or less blue-gray, depending on variety, long and less than wide and thick. They are typically spineless, but as is typical for Opuntia species, have many small barbed bristles, called glochids, that easily penetrate the skin. Opuntia basilaris blooms from spring to early summer.

Taxonomy

One of the first known descriptions of Opuntia basilaris come from the reports of the explorations and surveys for a railroad route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. This expedition followed the 35th parallel through New Mexico, Arizona, and California. In the 4th volume of this report, The Botany of the Expedition, by George Engelmann and John M. Bigelow, Opuntia basilaris is described as a stout, fan-shaped Opuntia resembling an open cabbage head, with accompanying illustrations.

Varieties

The species is variable in nature and several names under different ranks have been described. Only four of these are generally accepted.Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada – Little beavertail pricklypearOpuntia basilaris var. heilii – Heil's beavertailOpuntia basilaris var. longiareolata – Elongated beavertail prickly pear or Grand Canyon beavertail pricklypearOpuntia basilaris var. treleasei – Trelease's beavertail prickly pear, Bakersfield cactus
Some experts consider the Trelease's beavertail to be a full species. It is unique among the varieties of Opuntia basilaris in that the areoles contain spines in addition to the bristles; this indicates that the species does vary a lot in its exterior.

Distribution and habitat

This species of cactus is found in the Southwest US regions including California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Northwestern Sonora, Mexico. This plant can be found in chaparral, desert, and grassland. This cactus grows in well draining mediums composed of sand, gravel, cobble, or even on boulders.

Chemistry

Opuntia basilaris contains 0.01% mescaline and 4-hydroxy-3-5-dimethoxyphenethylamine.

Uses

The Cahuilla Native Americans used beavertail as a food staple. The buds were cooked or steamed, and then were eaten or stored. The large seeds were ground up to be eaten as mush. The Diegueño would consume it as a dried fruit after removing the spines. The Shoshone Native American Tribe took advantage of the analgesic properties of this cactus by creating a poultice from the inner mucilage to treat minor cuts.