slgwv's photos with the keyword: prickly pear

Along the Horsethief Canyon designated vehicle route in the Piper Mountain Wilderness, north of Death Valley, California. Beavertail ( Opuntia basilaris ) is a type of prickly pear cactus where the thorns are isolated in small clumps, leaving big flat blades like a beaver's tail. It was a staple of the local Native Americans and is also used in traditional Mexican cooking. You can often find the blades in the Hispanic foods section of supermarkets in the US Southwest.

Above the Verde River, Arizona, as seen from the Verde Canyon excursion train.

Mint Wash Trail, near Prescott, Arizona, USA. Yes, they're edible--for many years there was a company that made prickly pear jam commercially ("Fruit of the Desert!"). Dunno if they're still around. IIRC you have to burn the thorns off to use the fruit. Map location is approximate.

A different species of prickly pear, in which the thorns occur in isolated clusters on the flat blades of the plant. Those oval blades vaguely resemble a beaver's tail, which is wide, flat, and hairless. Beavers use their tails both for swimming and for slapping the water surface as a warning. Arrow Canyon, southern Nevada.

In bloom. With lots of fuzzy-looking thorns--they're not as soft as they appear! ;) Arrow Canyon, southern Nevada.