Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada

Short-joint beavertail, Short-Joint Beavertail

Family: Cactaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Short-joint beavertail is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains in chaparral and oak/pine woodland at elevations of 1,200 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pale pink to magenta flowers with distinctive succulent paddle-shaped segments. Growing with flattened stem segments 5 to 13 centimeters long and 1.5 to 5 centimeters wide, it forms a low, spreading structure characteristic of desert succulents. Its segments are nearly cylindrical to slightly club-shaped, with no visible spines, creating a smooth, sculptural appearance in its native habitat. This distinctive cactus variety thrives in dry, rocky landscapes of southern California mountain ranges.

Habitat: Chaparral, oak/pine woodland

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: 1200-1800 m

Bioregions: SnGb, SnBr.

California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.