Beavertail Blooms

Seen along the White Domes Loop Trail. The beavertail cactus is often mistaken for the prickly pear due to the similar size and shape of the pads, but the beavertail is easy to distinguish because its pads have small, hair-like spines (very annoying and difficult to remove from clothes and skin if you brush against them-- think of tiny splinters or fiberglass insulation) as opposed to the long spines of the prickly pear. Also, prickly pears bloom in shades of yellow. View in "Orig" to appreciate the beautiful flowers in better detail. Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada-- April 2009