[Illustration: Opuntia engelmanni
Opuntia basilaris]
Common names: PRICKLYPEAR, (_TUNA_), BEAVERTAIL
Arizona desert: (_Opuntia engelmanni_). Yellow. April-June.
California desert: (_Opuntia basilaris_). Magenta. March-April.
Texas desert: (_Opuntia engelmanni_). Yellow. May-July.
Cactus family. Size: Clumps, sometimes 5 feet high and 10 feet in
diameter.
The flattened pods, or stem joints, of the Pricklypears growing, as they
do, in huge clumps make them the best known of the Cacti throughout the
West. There are many species found throughout the United States, but the
plants reach their greatest size and luxuriant growth in the desert
areas of the Southwest. The large, red to purple and mahogany, juicy,
pear-shaped fruits are known as _tunas_, and are eaten by many animals
as well as by the native peoples. Flowers are large and spectacular.
Although a number of species of Pricklypears are found in all of the
desert areas, _O. engelmanni_ with its bright yellow flowers is the
commonest form in both the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts, while the
Beavertail cactus with its magenta flowers and lack of large spines is
the common and spectacular form of the Mohave Desert.
Pricklypears are increasing in parts of the desert where conditions are
favorable, especially where heavy grazing has given them an advantage
over plants that are favorable to livestock.